Mass-balanced automatic hand-supportable laser projection scanner for fatigue-free omnidirectional scanning of bar code symbols

ABSTRACT

A fully automatic bar code symbol reading system which has an automatic (i.e., triggerless) portable bar code symbol reading device with an omnidirectional projection laser scanning engine mounted within the head portion of its hand-supportable housing, and an associated base unit positioned within the data transmission range of the portable unit without a physical wiring connection to the portable unit. The hand-supportable bar code symbol reading device produces a narrowly confined scanning volume for omnidirectional scanning of code symbols presented within the scanning volume, while preventing unintentional scanning of code symbols on nearby objects located outside of the scanning volume.

RELATED CASES

The present Application is a continuation-in-part of: application Ser.No. 08/615,054 filed Mar. 12, 1996; application Ser. Nos.: 08/573,949filed Dec. 18, 1995; application Ser. No. 08/292,237 filed May 17, 1994;application Ser. No. 08/365,193 filed Dec. 28, 1994; now Pat. No.5,557,093 application Ser. No. 08/293,493 filed Aug. 19, 1994; now Pat.No. 5,525,789 application Ser. No. 08/561,479 filed Nov. 20, 1995; nowPat. No. 5,661,242 application Ser. No. 08/278,109 filed Nov. 24, 1995now Pat. No. 5,484,992; application Ser. No. 08/489,305 filed Jun. 9,1995 now abandoned, application Ser. No. 08/476,069 filed Jun. 7, 1995now U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,593; and copending application Ser. No.08/584,135 filed Jan. 11, 1996 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,616,908. Each saidpatent application is assigned to and commonly owned by MetrologicInstruments, Inc. of Blackwood, N.J., and is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to laser scanning systems, andmore particularly to an automatic bar code symbol reading system inwhich an automatic hand-supportable laser scanner can be interchangeablyutilized as either a portable hand-held laser scanner in an automatic"hands-on" mode of operation, or as a stationary laser projectionscanner in an automatic "hands-free" mode of operation.

2. Brief Description Of The Prior Art

Bar code symbols have become widely used in many commercial environmentssuch as, for example, point-of-sale (POS) stations in retail stores andsupermarkets, inventory and document tracking, and diverse data controlapplications. To meet the growing demands of this recent technologicalinnovation, bar code symbol readers of various types have been developedfor scanning and decoding bar code symbol patterns and producing symbolcharacter data for use as input in automated data processing systems.

In general, prior art hand-held bar code symbol readers using laserscanning mechanisms can be classified into two major categories.

The first category of hand-held laser-based bar code symbol readersincludes manually-actuated trigger-operated systems having lightweight,hand-held laser scanners which can be supported in the hand of the user.The user positions the hand-held laser scanner at a specified distancefrom the object bearing the bar code symbol, manually activates thescanner to initiate reading and then moves the scanner over otherobjects bearing bar code symbols to be read. Prior art bar code symbolreaders illustrative of this first category are disclosed in U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,387,297 to Swartz; 4,575,625 to Knowles; 4,845,349 to Cherry;4,825,057 to Swartz, et al.; 4,903,848 to Knowles; 5,107,100 to Shepard,et al.; 5,080,456 to Katz, et al.; and 5,047,617 to Shepard, et al.

The second category of hand-held laser-based bar code symbol readersincludes automatically actuated systems having lightweight triggerlesshand-held laser scanners which can be supported in the hand of the user.The user positions the hand-held laser scanner at a specified distancefrom the object bearing the bar code, the presence of the object isautomatically detected, the presence of the bar code symbol on theobject is detected, and thereafter the detected bar code symbolautomatically read. Prior art illustrative of this second category oflaser-based bar code symbol reading systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,639,606 to Boles, et al., and 4,933,538 to Heiman, et al.

While prior art hand-held and stationary laser scanners have played animportant role in the development of the bar code symbol industry, thesedevices have, however, suffered from a number of shortcomings anddrawbacks. For example, hand-held laser scanners, although portable andlightweight, are not always convenient to use in assembly-lineapplications where the user processes bar coded objects over an extendedperiod of time, or where the user requires the use of both hands inorder to manipulate the objects. In some applications, hand-held laserscanners are difficult to manipulate while simultaneously moving objectsor performing other tasks at a point-of-sale terminal. Stationary laserscanners, on the other hand, provide a desired degree of flexibility inmany applications by allowing the user to manipulate bar coded objectswith both hands. However, by their nature, stationary laser scannersrender scanning large, heavy objects a difficult task as such objectsmust be manually moved into or through the laser scan field.

Attempting to eliminate the problems associated with the use ofhand-held and stationary laser scanners, U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,297 toMcMillan discloses a bar code symbol scanning system which combines theadvantages of hand-held and stationary fixed laser scanners into asingle scanning system which can be used in either a hands-on orhands-free mode of operation.

The bar code symbol scanning system in U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,297 includesa portable hand-held laser scanning device for generating electricalsignals descriptive of a scanned bar code symbol. In the hands-on modeof operation, a trigger on the hand-held laser scanning device ismanually actuated each time a bar code symbol on an object is to beread. The system further includes a fixture having a head portion forreceiving and supporting the hand-held laser scanning device, and a baseportion above which the head portion is supported at a predetermineddistance. In the hands-free mode of operation, the hand-held laserscanning device is supported by the fixture head portion above thefixture base portion in order to allow objects bearing bar code symbolsto pass between the head and base portions of the fixture. In order todetect the presence of an object between the head and base portions ofthe fixture, the fixture also includes an object sensor operablyconnected to the hand-held laser scanning device. When the object sensorsenses an object between the head portion and the base portion, theobject sensor automatically initiates the hand-held laser scanningdevice supported in the fixture to read the bar code symbol on thedetected object.

While the bar code symbol scanning system of U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,297permits reading of printed bar code information using either a portable"hands-on" or stationary "hands-free" mode of operation, this systemsuffers from several significant shortcomings and drawbacks as well.

In particular, in the hands-on mode of operation, scanning bar codesymbols requires manually actuating a trigger each time a bar codesymbol is to be read. In the hands-free mode of operation, scanning barcode symbols requires passing the object bearing the bar code betweenthe head and base portions of the fixture. However, in many instanceswhere both hands are required to manipulate a bar coded object, theobject is too large to be passed between the head and base portions ofthe fixture and thus scanning of the bar code symbol is not possible.

In an attempt to address such problems, several hand-held projectionlaser scanners have been developed for omnidirectional code symbolscanning. Examples of such systems include the NCR 7890 presentationscanner from the NCR Corporation and the LS9100 omnidirectional laserscanner from Symbol Technologies, inc. While each of these systemsproduces an omnidirectional laser scan pattern from a hand-supportablehousing and have hands-free and hands-on modes of operation, each ofthese scanning devices suffer from a number of shortcomings anddrawbacks. In particular, the spatial extent of the laser scan patternproduced from each of these scanners frequently results in theinadvertent scanning of code symbols on products placed near the scannerduring its hands-free mode of operation. In the hands-on mode ofoperation, it is virtually impossible to use the scanners to read barcode symbol menus provided in diverse application environments.Moreover, in each of these scanner designs, the scanner is tethered toits base unit by a power/signal cord, and the user is required to handlethe scanner housing in an awkward manner in the hands-on mode ofoperation, resulting in strain and fatigue and thus a decrease inproductivity. In addition, the control structure provided in each ofthese hand-held projection scanners operates the scanner components in amanner which involves inefficient consumption of electrical power, andprevents diverse modes of automatic code symbol reading which would bedesired in portable scanning environments.

Thus, there is a great need in the bar code symbol reading art for a barcode symbol reading system which overcomes the above describedshortcomings and drawbacks of prior art devices and techniques, whileproviding greater versatility in its use.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to providea fully automatic bar code symbol reading system having an automatichand-supportable laser scanning device which can be used at apoint-of-sale (POS) station as either a portable hand-supported laserscanner when operated in its automatic hands-on mode of operation, or asa stationary laser projection scanner when operated in its automatichands-free mode of operation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such anautomatic bar code symbol reading system, wherein a highly collimatedlaser scanning pattern is projected from the hand-supportable deviceabout a projection axis, and comprises laser scanning planes whichintersect within a narrowly confined scanning volume extending about theprojection axis so that bar code symbols disposed within the scanningvolume can be read omnidirectionally, while inadvertent scanning of barcode symbols outside of the scanning volume is prevented.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such anautomatic bar code symbol reading system, wherein the projection axisabout which the narrowly confined scanning volume extends issubstantially coplanar with the longitudinal axis of the head and handleportions of the hand-supportable housing.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an automatichand-supportable laser projection scanner having a center-of-mass whichprovides easy handling, consistent with ergonometric design principles,for fatigue-free omnidirectional scanning of bar code symbols.

Another object of the present invention to provide automatichand-supportable omnidirectional laser projection scanner with ahand-supportable housing that allows to user to easily control thedirection of its projection axis by way of the handle portion of thehousing, and thus align the narrowly confined scanning volume of thescanner with the bar code symbol on the object to be scanned andidentified.

Another object of the present invention to provide a portable automatichand-supportable omnidirectional laser projection scanner with apower-conserving control system that provides battery power to thesystem components of the scanner in an intelligent manner.

Another object of the present invention to provide an automatichand-supportable omnidirectional laser projection scanner having ahand-supportable housing with a scan-head that visually indicates thedirection of the projection axis, for intuitive hand-supportedomnidirectional scanning of bar code symbols within the narrowlyconfined scanning volume extending thereabout.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such anautomatic bar code symbol reading system, in which one or more bar codesymbols on an object can be automatically read in a consecutive manner.

A further object is to provide such an automatic bar code symbol readingdevice, in which the automatic hand-supportable bar code (symbol)reading device has an infrared light object detection field whichspatially encompasses at least a portion of its volumetric scanningfield along the operative scanning range of the device, therebyimproving the laser beam pointing efficiency of the device during theautomatic bar code reading process of the present invention.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such an automaticbar code reading system with a scanner support stand that supports thehand-supportable housing of the device in a selected mounting position,and permits complete gripping of the handle portion of thehand-supportable housing prior to removing it therefrom.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic barcode symbol reading system, in which battery power from a supply withinthe hand-supportable housing of its portable bar code symbol readingdevice is automatically metered out and provided to the powerdistribution circuitry thereof for a predetermined time period which isreset upon the occurrence of either the manual actuation of anexternally mounted power reset button, the reading (i.e. scanning anddecoding) of a valid bar code symbol, or the placement of thehand-supportable bar code symbol reading device within its scannersupport stand.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such anautomatic bar code symbol reading device, with a novel automatic powercontrol circuit that effectively conserves the consumption of batterypower therein, without compromising the operation or performance of thedevice during its diverse modes of automatic operation.

It is another object of the present invention is to provide an automatichand-supportable bar code reading device having both long andshort-range modes of bar code symbol reading, automatically selectablein a variety of different ways, (e.g. by placing the hand-supportabledevice within its support stand, removing it therefrom).

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a multi-modeautomatic bar code symbol reading device, so that it can be used invarious bar code symbol reading applications, such as, for example,charge coupled device (CCD) scanner emulation, counter-top projectionscanning in the hands-free long-range mode of operation, or the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatichand-supportable bar code reading device with a programmably selectablemode of operation that prevents multiple reading of the same bar codesymbol due to dwelling of the laser scanning beam upon a bar code symbolfor an extended period of time, yet allows a plurality of bar codesymbols (e.g. representing the same UPC) to be read in a consecutivemanner even though they are printed on the same, or apparently the same,object or surface, as often is the case in inventory scanningapplications.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a point-of-salestation (POS) incorporating the automatic bar code symbol reading systemof the present invention.

It is a further object of the present invention is to provide anautomatic hand-supportable bar code reading device having a controlsystem which has a finite number of states through which the device maypass during its automatic operation, in response to diverse conditionsautomatically detected within the object detection and scanning fieldsof the device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable,automatic bar code symbol reading device, wherein the laser beamscanning motor is operated at a lower angular velocity during its objectdetection state to conserve battery power consumption and facilitaterapid steady-state response when the device is induced into its bar codesymbol detection and bar code symbol reading states of operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portableautomatic bar code symbol reading device, wherein the laser beamscanning motor is denergized during its object detection state toconserve battery power consumption therewhile, and is momentarilyoverdriven to facilitate rapid steady-state response when the deviceundergoes a transition from the object detection state to the bar codesymbol detection state of operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel mechanismfor mounting a projection laser scanning platform within the headportion of an automatic hand-supportable omnidirectional projectionlaser scanner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novelomnidirectional laser scanning platform for use within an automaticportable projection laser scanner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bar code symbolreading system having at least one hand-supportable bar code symbolreading device which, after each successful reading of a code symbol,automatically synthesizes and then transmits a data packet to a baseunit positioned within the data transmission range of the bar codesymbol reading device, and upon the successful receipt of thetransmitted data packet and recovery of symbol character data therefrom,the base unit transmits an acoustical acknowledgement signal that isperceptible to the user of the bar code symbol reading device residingwithin the data transmission range thereof.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such a systemwith one or more automatic (i.e., triggerless) hand-supportablelaser-based bar code symbol reading devices, each of which is capable ofautomatically transmitting data packets to its base unit after eachsuccessful reading of a bar code symbol.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such a bar codesymbol reading system in which the hand-supportable bar code symbolreading device can be used as either a portable hand-supported laserscanner in an automatic hands-on mode of operation, or as a stationarylaser projection scanner in an automatic hands-free mode of operation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such a bar codesymbol system in which the base unit contains a battery rechargingdevice that automatically recharges batteries contained in thehand-supportable device when the hand-supportable device is supportedwithin the base unit.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such anautomatic bar code symbol reading system with a mode of operation thatpermits the user to automatically read one or more bar code symbols onan object in a consecutive manner.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such anautomatic bar code symbol reading system, in which a plurality ofautomatic hand-supportable bar code symbol reading devices are used inconjunction with a plurality of base units, each of which is assigned toa particular bar code symbol reading device.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such anautomatic bar code symbol reading system, in which radio frequency (RF)carrier signals of the same frequency are used by each hand-supportablebar code symbol reading device to transmit data packets to respectivebase units.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such anautomatic bar code symbol reading system, in which a novel data packettransmission and reception scheme is used to minimize the occurrence ofdata packet interference at each base unit during data packet reception.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such anautomatic bar code symbol reading system, in which the novel data packettransmission and reception scheme enables each base unit to distinguishdata packets associated with consecutively different bar code symbolsread by a particular bar code symbol reading device, without thetransmission of electromagnetic-based data packet acknowledgment signalsafter receiving each data packet at the base unit.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automatichand-supportable bar code reading device having a control system whichhas a finite number of states through which the device may pass duringits automatic operation, in response to diverse conditions automaticallydetected within the object detection and scan fields of the device.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide aportable, fully automatic bar code symbol reading system which iscompact, simple to use and versatile.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a novelmethod of reading bar code symbols using an automatic hand-supportableomnidirectional laser scanning device.

These and further objects of the present invention will become apparenthereinafter and in the Claims to Invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the Objects of the Invention, the DetailedDescription of the Illustrated Embodiments of the Present Inventionshould be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1A is an elevated perspective view of the illustrative embodimentof the automatic bar code symbol reading system hereof, with itshand-supportable bar code symbol reading device shown supported withinthe scanner support stand portion of its matching base unit, andarranged for automatic hands-free operation;

FIG. 1B is an elevated perspective view of the illustrative embodimentof the automatic bar code symbol reading device hereof, shown being usedin its automatic hands-on mode of operation;

FIG. 1C is an elevated side view of the illustrative embodiment of theautomatic bar code symbol reading device hereof, illustrating that themass balance of the hand-supportable bar code symbol reading device hasbeen designed to minimize torques about the point of pivot of thehousing which occurs about the user's index finger in order to maximizeits ergonomic handling efficiency eliminate fatigue during automatichands-on, omnidirectional laser scanning operations;

FIG. 1D is an elevated side view of the illustrative embodiment of theautomatic bar code symbol reading device hereof, illustrating thespatial alignment of the longitudinal axis of the head portion of thescanner and the projection axis of the laser scanning platform containedtherein;

FIG. 1E is an elevated side view of the illustrative embodiment of theautomatic bar code symbol reading device hereof, shown supported withinthe scanner support stand portion of its matching base unit, arrangedfor automatic hands-free operation in a first scanning position;

FIG. 1F is an elevated side view of the illustrative embodiment of theautomatic bar code symbol reading device hereof, shown supported withinthe scanner support stand portion of its matching base unit, arrangedfor automatic hands-free operation in a second scanning position;

FIG. 1G is a partially cross-sectional side view of the illustrativeembodiment of the automatic bar code symbol reading device hereof shownsupported within the scanner support stand of its matching base unit andrevealing structural features of its position locking mechanism.

FIG. 2A is an elevated side view of the illustrative embodiment of theautomatic bar code symbol reading device of the present invention,illustrating the spatial relationship between the object detection andscan fields of the device, and the long and short-ranges of programmedobject detection, bar code presence detection, and bar code symbolreading;

FIG. 2B is a plan view of the automatic bar code symbol reading devicetaken along line 2A--2A of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3A is an elevated, cross-sectional side view of the automatic barcode symbol reading device of the present invention, taken along itslongitudinal axis, showing the various components contained therein;

FIG. 3B is an elevated, end view of the automatic bar code symbolreading device of the present invention, taken along line 3B--3B of FIG.1D, showing the various components contained therein;

FIG. 4 is an elevated side view of the laser scanning platform of thepresent invention realized on its shock-mounted optical bench, removedfrom the housing of the hand-supportable bar code symbol reading deviceof the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a plan view of the optical bench of the laser scanningplatform of FIG. 4, shown with the stationary array of mirrors, rotatingpolygonal mirror and motor removed therefrom for illustrative purposes;

FIG. 5B is a view of the laser scanning platform of the presentinvention taken along line 5B--5B of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5C is an elevated side view of the optical bench of FIG. 5A, shownwith the stationary mirror support bracket removed therefrom forillustrative purposes;

FIG. 5D is schematic diagram illustrating the physical layout ofcomponents on the analog signal processing board supported on theoptical bench of the laser scanning platform of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6A1 and 6A2 provide a geometrical optics model of the stationarymirror array of the laser scanning platform of the illustrativeembodiment, graphically defining the various angles used to configurethe stationary mirrors relative to the central reference plane thereof;

FIG. 6B is a schematic representation defining the angles that eachlight reflective facet on the rotating polygon is disposed relative tothe axis of rotation thereof.

FIG. 6C is a geometrical optics model of the stationary mirror array ofthe laser scanning platform of the illustrative embodiment, graphicallydefining the various physical dimensions stationary mirrors relative tothe central reference plane thereof;

FIG. 6D is a geometrical optics model of the stationary mirror array ofthe laser scanning platform of the illustrative embodiment, graphicallydefining the various physical dimensions stationary mirrors relative tothe central reference plane thereof;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are cross-sectional views of the 3-D laser scanningvolume of the illustrative embodiment, taken parallel to the lighttransmissive window at about 1.0" and 5.0" therefrom;

FIG. 8 is a system block functional diagram of the automatic bar codesymbol reading system of the present invention, illustrating theprincipal components integrated with the control (sub)system thereof;

FIG. 8A is a schematic diagram of the automatic power supply unit aboardthe automatic bar code symbol reading device of the present invention;

FIG. 8B is a functional logic diagram of the oscillator circuit in theApplication Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) chip in the automatic barcode symbol reading device of the present invention;

FIG. 8C is a timing diagram for the oscillator circuit of FIG. 8B;

FIG. 8D is a block functional diagram of the object detection circuit(i.e., system activation means) in the ASIC chip in the automatic barcode symbol reading device of the present invention;

FIG. 8E is a functional logic diagram of the first control circuit (C₁)of the control system of the present invention;

FIG. 8F is a functional logic diagram of the clock divide circuit in thefirst control circuit C₁ of FIG. 8E;

FIG. 8G is table setting forth Boolean logic expressions for theenabling signals produced by the first control circuit C₁ ;

FIG. 8H is a functional block diagram of the analog to digital (A/D)signal conversion circuit in the ASIC chip in the bar code symbolreading device of the present invention;

FIG. 8I is a functional logic diagram of the bar code symbol. (presence)detection circuit in the ASIC chip in the bar code symbol reading deviceof the present invention;

FIG. 8J is a functional logic diagram of the clock divide circuit in thebar code symbol detection circuit of FIG. 8I;

FIG. 8K is a schematic representation of the time window andsubintervals maintained by the bar code symbol detection circuit duringthe bar code symbol detection process, FIG. 8L is a functional logicdiagram of the second control circuit (C₂) in the ASIC chip in theautomatic bar code symbol reading device of the present invention;

FIG. 8M is Boolean logic table defining the functional relationshipsamong the input and output signals into and out from the second controlcircuit C₂ of FIG. 8N;

FIG. 8N is a schematic representation of the format of each data packettransmitted from the data packet transmission circuit of FIG. 9.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of the data packet transmissioncircuit of the bar code symbol reading device of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic representation illustrating several groups ofdata packets transmitted from the bar code symbol reading device hereofin accordance with the principles of data packet transmission andreception scheme of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of an exemplary set of groups ofdata packet pseudo-randomly transmitted from neighboring bar code symbolreading devices, and received at one base unit in physical proximitytherewith;

FIG. 12 is a schematic representation of an exemplary set of datapackets simultaneously transmitted from three neighboring bar codesymbol reading devices of the present invention, and received at theassociated base units assigned thereto;

FIGS. 13A to 13C, taken together, show a high level flow chart of thecontrol process performed by the control subsystem of the bar codesymbol reading device, illustrating various modes of object detection,bar code presence detection and bar code symbol reading;

FIG. 14 is a state transition diagram illustrating the various statesthat the automatic hand-supportable bar code symbol reading device ofthe illustrative embodiment may undergo during the course of itsprogrammed operation;

FIG. 15A is a perspective view of the scanner support stand portion ofthe countertop base unit of the present invention;

FIG. 15B is a perspective view of the base plate portion of thecountertop base unit of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a functional block diagram of the data packet receiving andprocessing circuitry and the acknowledgment signal generating circuitryof the present invention realized on the printed circuit board in thebase unit shown in FIGS. 15A to 15C;

FIG. 16A is a functional block diagram of the radio receiver subcircuitof the data packet receiving circuit of FIG. 16;

FIG. 16B is a functional block diagram of the digitally controlledacoustical acknowledgment signal generating circuit of the presentinvention;

FIGS 17 and 17A, taken together, show is a flow chart illustrating thesteps undertaken during the control process carried out in the base unitof FIG. 15A;

FIG. 18A is perspective view of a point-of-sale (POS) station accordingto the present invention, showing the automatic hand-supportable barcode symbol reading device hereof being used in its automatic"hands-free" long-range mode of operation; and

FIG. 18D is a perspective view of the POS station of FIG. 18A, showingthe symbol reading device hereof being used in its automatic "hands-on"short-range mode of operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENTINVENTION

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3B, automatic bar code symbol reading system 1 ofthe illustrative embodiment of the present invention comprises anautomatic (i.e., triggerless) portable bar code (symbol) reading device2 operably associated with a base unit 3 having a scanner support stand4 pivotally connected thereto, for releasably supporting the automaticbar code symbol reading device 2 at any one of a number of positionsabove of a counter surface at a Point of Sale (POS) station. In thepreferred embodiment, the bar code symbol reading device 2 is operablyconnected with its the base unit 3 by way of a one way electromagneticlink 5 that is momentarily created between bar code symbol readingdevice 2 and its mated base unit 3 after the successful reading of eachbar code symbol by the bar code symbol reading device. Operableinterconnection between the base unit and a host system (e.g.,electronic cash register system, data collection device, etc.) 6 isachieved by a flexible multiwire communications cable 7 extending fromthe base unit and plugged directly into the data-input communicationsport of the host computer system 6. In the illustrative embodiment,electrical power from a low voltage direct current (DC) power supply(not shown) is provided to the base unit by way of a flexible powercable 8. Notably, this DC power supply can be realized in host computersystem 6 or as a separate DC power supply adapter pluggable into aconventional 3-prong electrical socket. In other embodiments of thepresent invention, cables 7 and 8 can be integrated to provide a singleflexible, multi-wire cable for transmission of power to the base unitand data to the host system. As will be described in greater detailhereinafter, a rechargeable battery power supply unit 20 is containedprimarily within the handle portion of the bar code symbol readingdevice 2 in order to energize the electrical and electro-opticalcomponents within the device.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1A through 1B, scanner support stand 4 isparticularly adapted for receiving and supporting portable bar codesymbol reading device 2 without user support, thus providing astationary, automatic hands-free mode of operation. In general, portablebar code symbol reading device 2 includes an ultra-light weighthand-supportable housing 9 having a head portion 9A and a contouredhandle portion 9B. As will be described in greater detail hereinafter,head portion 9A encloses electro-optical components which are arrangedin a novel scanning platform 10 of ultra compact construction whichrenders possible the production of a highly collimated scanning pattern11 through light transmission window 12 for the purpose of scanning barcode symbols on objects within a narrowly confined scanning (i.e., 3-Dscan field) volume 13, while preventing unintentional scanning of barcode symbols on objects located outside thereof at point of sale (POS)stations. Thus, by minimizing the amount of counter-space that must beclear (i.e. free) of bar coded items at point of sale POS stations, thelaser scanner of the present invention provides retailers with greatercounter-space availability for displaying merchandise and the like, yetwithout sacrificing the increase in check-out performance and workerproductivity associated with the use of bar code symbol scanners at POSstations.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 1C, the base unit 3 includes a baseportion 14 which can be realized in a variety of different ways. Forexample, the base portion 14 can be realized as a compact stand forsupport upon a countertop surface as shown in FIG. 18, or it can berealized as a support mount for vertical wall-mounting. In eitherembodiment, the function of the scanner stand 4 is to support the devicein any one of a plurality of positions above a workspace 19 which may bea counter surface in POS applications. With this arrangement, the highlycollimated scanning pattern 11 can be projected about the projectionaxis 17 above the counter surface in any one of a plurality oforientations corresponding to the plurality of positions.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 15A, base portion 14 contains electroniccircuitry realized on a PC board 16 for carrying out various types offunctions, namely: reception of electrical power from the host systemand coupling electrical power to the rechargeable battery containedwithin the hand-supportable housing; reception of data packetstransmitted from the automatic bar code symbol reading device, andprocessing the same for data recovery; generation of acoustical and/oroptical acknowledgement signals; and transmission of symbol characterdata to the host system. Each of these functions will be described ingreater detail hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 15A and 15B.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1B and 1C in particular, the head portion 9Acontinuously extends into contoured handle portion 9B at an obtuse angleα which, in the illustrative embodiment, is about 115 degrees. It isunderstood, however, that in other embodiments obtuse angle α may be inthe range of about 100 to about 150 degrees. As illustrated in FIG. 1C,the mass balance of the device is particularly designed so that when thedevice is held within the user's hand, the index finger of the user isdisposed beneath the head portion of the housing, and provides a pivotpoint about which there is substantially zero torque acting upon thedevice, preventing it from rotating in either direction about the indexfinger. Instead, the resultant force distribution acting upon the user'shand is aligned in the direction of gravitational forces, as indicted inFIG. 1C. The effect of this mass-balanced scanner design is to minimizethe torque imposed on the user's wrists and forearms while using the barcode symbol reading device in the hands-on mode of operation. This, inturn, minimizes the amount of energy which the user must expend duringhands-on scanning operations, thereby reducing wrist and arm fatigue andincreasing worker productivity. In addition to the above advantages, thehand-supportable housing hereof is sculptured (i.e., form-fitted) to thehuman hand so that automatic hands-on scanning is rendered easy andeffortless. Also, the ergonomic housing design eliminates the risks ofmusculoskeletal disorders, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, which canresult from repeated biomechanical stress commonly associated withpointing prior art gun-shaped scanners at bar code symbols, andsqueezing a trigger to activate the laser scanning beam, and thenreleasing the trigger.

As best shown in FIGS. 1G, 15A and 15B, stand portion 4 of the base unit3 is pivotally supported with respect to the base portion by way ofpivot pins 22A and 22B. In order to releasably hold the stand portion ofthe base unit relative to the base portion thereof in any one of anumber of provided scanning positions, a releasable stand-lockingmechanism 23 is provided. As shown in FIG. 1G, the locking mechanism isrealized as a set of projections 24 formed on the inside surface of thesupport arms 4A of the stand portion of the base unit, and aprojection-catch 25 formed on the adjacent surface of the base portion.These structure features of the base unit are shown in FIG. 1G. Thefunction of the projection catch 25 is to releasably engage one of theprojections 24 associated with the selected scanning position. Gentlerotation of the head portion of the scanner while supported in its standcauses the projection caught in the projection-catch 25 to releasetherefrom, allowing the scanner to be repositioned as desired. At theresulting scanning position, the corresponding projection 24automatically engages with the projection-catch 25 and locks the standportion of the base unit relative to the base portion thereof. Inaddition, to allow the base unit to easily rotate relative to itssupport surface, the bottom of the base portion is realized as aturntable structure that allows its bottom section 26A to be stationaryrelative to the support surface (i.e. countertop) 27, while the uppersection 26B is fixed relative to the balance of the base portion of thebase unit. A pivot 26C is used to pivotally connect the upper and lowersections together for easy rotation of the base unit relative to thesupport surface.

In FIGS. 1E and 1F, the automatic bar code symbol reading system of thepresent invention is arranged in two extreme scanning configurationsduring the automatic hands-free mode of system operation. In thesedifferent scanning configurations, the stand portion of the base unit isarranged differently with respect to the base portion of the base unit.In FIG. 1E, the stand portion of the base unit is shown supporting thehand-supportable projection scanning device hereof so that itsnarrowly-confined 3-D scanning volume 13 is projected in a directionslightly off-parallel to the counter surface upon which the base unit issupported. In this hands-free scanning configuration, code symbols onlarge objects can be easily scanned by simply presenting the code symbolto the narrowly-confined scanning volume 13 projected along the"pointing direction" (i.e. longitudinal axis) of the head portion of thescanner housing. In FIG. 1F, the stand portion of the base unit is shownsupporting the hand-supportable projection scanning device hereof sothat its scanning volume is projected downwardly, in a direction passingthrough the counter surface upon which the base unit is supported. Inthis hands-free scanning configuration, code symbols on small objectscan be easily scanned by simply presenting to the code symbol to thenarrowly-confined scanning volume 13 projected beneath the head portionof the scanner housing.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2A through 3B, the head portion 9A of thehand-supportable housing has a light transmission aperture 12A formed inthe front portion thereof. As shown, the light transmission window 12 ismounted over the entire light transmission aperture. In the preferredembodiment, the spectral transmission characteristics of the lighttransmission window are such that all wavelengths greater (i.e. longer)than slightly less than 670 nm (e.g. longer than 665 nm) are permittedto exit and enter the interior volume of the housing with minimumattenuation. As a result of such characteristics, the visible laser lineat 670 nanometers and the infra-red (IR) spectral line at 870 nm(produced from the object sensing circuitry hereof) are allowed topropagate through the transmission window, out of the head portion ofthe housing, reflect from an object/bar code surface, and return throughthe transmission window. Notably, all other surfaces of thehandsupportable housing are opaque to electromagnetic radiation in thevisible band.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2, and 2A, in particular, the bar code symbolreading device 2 generates from its laser scanning platform 10, twodifferent types of fields external to its hand-supportable housing. Asexplained below, these fields function to carry out a novel bar codesymbol reading process according to the principles of the presentinvention. The first field, referred to as the "object detection field",indicated by broken and dotted lines 30, is provided external to thehousing for detecting energy reflected off an object (bearing a bar codesymbol) located in the object detection field. As shown in FIGS. 2A and2B, the second field 31, referred to as the "scan field" or "3-D scanfield"(i.e. narrowly-confined scanning volume 13), has a multiplicity oflaser beam scanning planes contained therewithin projected external tothe head portion of the housing. The function of the scanning volume(i.e. 3-D scan field) is to scan a bar code symbol on an objectautomatically detected in the object detection field. In the preferredembodiment, bar code symbol scanning is achieved using a scanned visiblelaser beam which, after reflecting off the bar code symbol in thescanning volume 13, produces laser scan data that is collected for thepurpose of automatically detecting the bar code symbol and subsequentlyreading (i.e., scanning and decoding) the same.

In general, detected energy reflected from an object during objectdetection can be optical radiation or acoustical energy, either sensibleor non-sensible by the user, and may be either generated from theautomatic bar code reading device or an external ambient source.However, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter, theprovision of such energy is preferably achieved by transmitting a widebeam of pulsed infrared (IR) light away from transmission aperture 11,in a direction substantially parallel to longitudinal axis 16 of thehand-supportable housing. In the preferred embodiment, the objectdetection field, from which such reflected energy is collected, isdesigned to have a narrowly diverging pencil-like geometry ofthree-dimensional volumetric expanse, which is spatially coincident withat least a portion of the transmitted infrared light beam. This featureof the present invention ensures that an object residing within theobject detection field will be illuminated by the infrared light beam,and that infrared light reflected therefrom will be directed generallytowards the transmission aperture of the housing where it can beautomatically detected to indicate the presence of the object within theobject detection field. In response to object presence detection, avisible laser beam is automatically generated within the interior of thebar code symbol reading device, projected through the light transmissionaperture of the housing and repeatedly scanned across the scanningvolume, within which at least a portion of the detected object lies. Atleast a portion of the scanned laser light beam will be scattered andreflected off the object and directed back towards and through lighttransmissive window 11 for collection and detection within the interiorof the bar code symbol reading device, and subsequently processed in amanner which will be described in detail hereinafter.

To ensure that the user can quickly align the visible laser beam withthe bar code symbol on the detected object, the object detection fieldof the preferred embodiment is designed to spatially encompass asignificant portion of the 3-D scanning volume along the operativescanning range of the device, as illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, for thefirst illustrative embodiment of the present invention. This structuralfeature of the present invention improves the laser beam pointingefficiency of the device during the automatic bar code symbol readingprocess.

As best shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the laser scanning platform (i.e.,laser scanning engine) 10 of the present invention is mounted within thehead portion of the hand-supportable housing by way of a three-pointshock-absorbing mounting mechanism, which will be described in greaterdetail hereinbelow. In the illustrative embodiment, the hand-supportablehousing is realized as a five-piece split-housing constructioncomprising: a first housing portion 9C carrying three spaced-apartmounting posts 29A, 29B and 29C, and providing a battery storage bay 30for storage of a (rechargeable) battery supply unit 32; a second housinghalf 9D providing posts 31A and 31B which engage with support posts 29Aand 29B when the first and second housing halves are brought together; abattery cover 9E for placement over the battery storage bay 30; ahousing end cap 9F for placement over the ends of the first and secondhousing halves; and a housing bumper 9G for supporting the lighttransmission window 12 and holding securely together the front ends ofthe first and second housing halves when the subcomponents of thehousing are assembled together. Provided within the battery storage bay,is an electrical socket 33 designed to receive rechargeable battery 32when it is installed within the bay when the bay cover 9E is removed. Anelectrical wire harness 34 is used to connect the battery socket 33 to aprinted circuit (PC) board 50 supported upon the laser scanning platform10, carrying digital scan data processing and control circuitry.Apertures 35A and 35B are formed in the end portion of the housinghandle to allow electrodes 51A and 51B on the battery 32 to establishelectrical contact with charging electrodes 52A and 52B provided withinthe support bay 60 of the stand portion of the base unit when thescanning device is operated in its hands-free mode of operation.Preferably, the above-described housing subcomponents are made from arugged, lightweight plastic material using injection-molding techniqueswell known in the art.

As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the data packettransmission circuit of copending application Ser. No. 08/292,237 isrealized on PC board 50, along with the microprocessor used to implementsymbol decoding, data formatting and system control functions.Electrical power supplied from rechargeable battery 32 is provided tothe digital signal processing/control board 50 by way of flexible wireharness 34. As shown, a transmitting antenna 53 is operably connected tothe data packet transmission circuit on the digital signal processingboard and is mounted within hand-supportable housing 9 for transmissionof a data packet modulated RF carrier signal. The structure and thefunctionalities of the automatic bar code symbol reading system hereofwill be described in greater detail hereinafter with reference to FIGS.8 to 14.

In FIG. 4, the laser scanning platform 10 is shown removed from itshousing. As shown, the laser scanning platform comprises an assembly ofsubcomponents assembled upon an optical bench 34 with respect to acentral longitudinal reference plane 35 referenced in FIGS. 5A through5B, in particular. This subcomponent assembly comprises: a scanningpolygon 36 having four light reflective surfaces 36A,36B, 36C and 36D,each disposed at an tilt angle a with respect to the rotational axis ofthe polygon; an electrical motor 37 mounted on the optical bench, andhaving a rotable shaft on which polygon 36 is mounted for rotationablemovement therewith; an array of stationary mirrors 38A, 38B, 38C, 38Dand 38E fixedly mounted with respect to the optical bench; a laser beamproduction module 39, fixedly mounted above the rotating polygon, forproducing a laser beam having a circularized beam cross-section, andessentially free of astigmatism along its length of propagation; ananalog signal processing board 40, fixedly mounted over the rotatablepolygon, and carrying a photodetector 41 for detecting reflected laserlight and producing analog scan data signals, and analog signalprocessing control circuits 42 for performing various functions,including analog scan data signal processing; a light collecting mirror43, disposed at a height above the central stationary mirror 38C, forcollecting light rays reflected off the rotating polygon and focusingthe same onto the photodetector on the analog board; and a beamdirecting surface 44, realized as a flat mirror mounted on the lightcollecting mirror 38C, for directing the laser beam from the laser beamproduction module to the rotating polygon disposed therebeneath. Asshown, these subcomponents are mounted relative to the optical bench 34according to the Specifications set forth in FIGS. 6A through 6B.

In FIGS. 5A through 5D, the subcomponents of the laser scanning platformare shown in greater detail. In particular, optical bench 34 is shown inFIG. 5A with the scanning motor 37 and stationary mirror elements 38Athrough 38E removed for illustration purposes. As shown, stationarymirror brackets 45 is mounted upon the optical bench 34 and has fivemirror support elements 45A through 45B, disposed beneath the locationsof their respective mirrors 38A, 38B, 38C, 38D and 38E. As shown in FIG.5B, the analog signal processing board 40 is disposed above the scanningpolygon 36 and extends at an acute angle with respect to the plane ofthe optical bench. The analog signal processing board 40 is supported inthis position and orientation by a pair of support bracket 46A and 46B.Support brackets 46A and 46B, in turn, are supported by a pair ofsupport posts 47A and 47B mounted to the middle portion of the opticalbench 34, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. As illustrated in FIG. 4, theposition of these support posts are slightly forward of the rotationalaxis of the polygon motor.

As best shown in FIG. 5A, the transverse axis of the light collectingmirror 43 is perpendicular to the central reference plane of the opticalbench. The stationary light reflective surface (i.e. mirror) 38C alsohas a transverse axis extending substantially perpendicularly withrespect to the central reference plane 34. Stationary light reflectivesurfaces 38B and 38D are symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of thecentral reference plane, respectively, and immediately adjacentstationary light reflective surface 38C. Stationary light reflectivesurfaces (i.e. mirrors) 38A and 38E are symmetrically disposed onopposite sides of the central reference plane, and immediately adjacentstationary light reflective surfaces 38B and 38D, respectively, andadjacent rotating polygon 36.

As best illustrated in FIG. 5C the angle of declination of the lightcollecting mirror 43 is selected so that the incident laser beam thereonfrom the laser beam production module 38 is redirected towards therotating polygon during laser beam scanning operations. The focal lengthof the light collecting mirror 43 is selected so that collected lightrays from the mirror are focused upon the photodetector 41, centrallymounted upon the analog signal processing board 40. In the illustrativeembodiment, light focusing mirror 43 is realized from ground-polishedglass, or molded plastic, coated with a mirror-finish by vapordeposition.

As shown in FIG. 5C, the photodetector 41 and light collecting mirror 43are aligned along a common optical axis which is disposed within thecentral longitudinal plane. As shown in FIG. 5D, the photodetector 41 ismounted on the analog signal processing board 40 along with signalprocessing circuits and signal connector elements, namely: opticalfilters 186A; visible laser diode drive circuitry 178; motor drivecircuitry 181; IR preamp circuitry 187; IR transmit and receivecircuitry 106; signal processing circuitry IC2; scan signalpreamplification circuitry 187; microprocessor port connector 300; andVLD/motor port connector 301. The function of such components will bedescribed in greater detail hereinafter.

The laser beam production module 39 of the laser scanning platformhereof may be realized in a variety of ways. Preferably, each embodimentthereof comprises a visible laser diode for producing a visible laserbeam, and associated optics for circularizing the laser beam andeliminating astigmatism therefrom along its direction of propagation. Inthe illustrative embodiment, the associated optics comprises an asphericcollimating lens, a beam circularizing prism, and a holographicallyformed light diffractive grating configured in such a manner that theabove-described functions are realized during laser beam production. Themanner in which such a laser beam production module can be constructedwithout the use of aperture stops is taught in copending applicationSer. No. 08/573,949, incorporated herein by reference.

The particular parameters used to configure the optical components ofthe laser scanning module are schematically represented in FIGS. 6A1through 6D. In FIGS. 6A1 and 6A2, a geometrical optics model is providedfor the illustrative embodiment of the laser beam scanning platform ofthe present invention. Within this geometrical optics model, stationarymirror surface 38A through 38E are designated by surface parameters S1through S5, respectively. Each of these mirror surfaces is located aboutthe central longitudinal plane 35 of the system, which functions as areference plane. In the illustrative embodiment, the distance betweenthe rotational axis of the polygon and the base of the central mirrorsurfaces S3 is 34 millimeters in the illustrative embodiment, whereasthe base-to-base distance between mirror surfaces S1 and S5 is about 35millimeters.

As shown in the geometrical optics model, the angles of inclination ofthe four mirrored surfaces on the polygon 36A, 36B, 36C, 36D are setforth in the Table of FIG. 6B. The angle of elevation f (i.e. bend) ofeach of the stationary mirrors 38A, 38B, 38C, 38D and 38E are listed inTable of FIG. 6A1. As shown in FIG. 6B, the angle of inclination of thestationary mirrors is references with respect to the plane of theoptical bench. As shown in FIG. 6A1, the angle of twist a for eachstationary mirror is referenced relative to the central longitudinalplane 35. The twist angle for the stationary mirrors are set forth inthe Table of FIG. 6A1. Notably, as central stationary mirror S3 isdisposed transversely relative to the central longitudinal plane, thetwist angle for this stationary mirror is 90°. The laterally disposedstationary mirrors S2 and S4 have the same twist angle of 43.75°,whereas stationary mirrors S1 and S5 have the same twist angle of 40.5°.

The heightwise and widthwise dimensions of the stationary reflectivesurfaces, in part, determine the length of the scanlines within the scanfield. These dimensions are indicated in FIG. 6C for the illustrativeembodiment. Notably, the perimetrical dimensions of these stationarymirrors are irregular in order to form a tightly-nested stationarymirror array arranged about the rotating polygon 36. The exact surfacedimensions are indicated in FIG. 6C. The heightwise and widthwisedimensions of the mirrors on the rotating polygon are indicated in FIG.6D. When constructed in accordance with the Specifications disclosedherein, the laser scanning platform of the illustrative embodiment willproduce a highly collimated set of scanning planes which extend from thelight transmission window and intersect about the projection axis 17 toform a highly collimated scanning pattern within a narrowly-confined 3-Dscanning volume thereabout. Two-dimensional cross-sectioncharacteristics of the resulting laser scanning pattern at about 1.5 and6 inches from the transmission window are shown in FIG. 7A and 7B.

When assembled and configured as described above, the laser scanningplatform 10 is mounted with the upper and lower halves of thehand-supportable housing 9A and 9B. Mounting is achieved by way ofresiliently securing shock-mounting support posts 29A, 29B and 29C tocorresponding mounting holes formed within the optical bench 35 usingrubber grommets and screws. As shown in FIG. 7, the assembled laserscanning platform (i.e. engine) is installed within the housing in amanner described above. As shown, PC board 50 is mounted to theunderside of the plastic optical bench by way of mechanical fastenersknown in the art. The function of PC board 50 is to provide a substrateupon which the decode/control processor, RF data packet transmissioncircuitry and power distribution circuitry of the laser scanning devicehereof are realized. In order that the shock-absorbing mounting systemcan operate properly, it is important that sufficient clearance isprovided between the outermost extensions of the scanning platform andthe interior wall surface of upper portion of the housing. In this way,the scanning platform is permitted to undergo gross displacements in thedirections of the dominant oscillatory modes of system when the deviceis dropped onto the floor, knocked into solid objects and the like undernormal or otherwise expected operating environments.

Having described the physical construction of the laser scanning engine10 of the present invention, it is appropriate at this juncture todescribe in greater detail the manner in which the laser scanningpattern is produced from the laser scanning platform hereof.

Upon detection of an object within the object detection field 30, alaser beam is produced from the laser beam production module 39 and isdirected towards beam directing surface 44 mounted on the lightcollecting mirror 43. The laser beam reflects from the beam directingsurface 44 towards the mirrored facets on the rotating scanning polygon36. As the polygon spins, the incident laser beam reflects off therotating mirrors 36A through 36D and sweeps the laser beam about itsrotational axis along a plurality of different paths which intersect thestationary array of mirrors 38A through 38E on the optical bench. Duringeach revolution of the scanning polygon, the laser beam reflects off therotating mirrors and therewhile is repeatedly swept across the array ofstationary mirrors thereby producing first, second, third, fourth andfifth groups of plural scan lines, respectively. These plural groups ofscanlines shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B are projected out through the lighttransmission window and intersect about the projection axis 17 extendingfrom the light transmission window, and within the narrowly confinedscanning volume 13. In the illustrative embodiment, the intersection ofthe laser scanning planes extends from adjacent (e.g. about 9.5" from)the light transmission window to at least about 10.0 inches therefrom soas to produce a highly collimated projected scanning pattern within thenarrowly confined 3-D scanning volume. Within this 3-D scanning volume,a bar code symbol can be scanned omnidirectionally, while preventingunintentional scanning of code symbols on objects located outsidethereof.

As illustrated in the cross-sectional diagrams of FIGS. 7A and 7B, thereexists a particular relationship among the scanlines of the laserscanning pattern of the illustrative embodiment. In particular, eachscan line in each group of scan lines is substantially parallel to eachother scan line in that group of scan lines. As a result, when the codesymbol is presented to the highly collimated scanning pattern projectedwithin narrowly confined scanning field, the code symbol isautomatically scanned therewithin independent of the orientation of thecode symbol within the scanning field (i.e. scanning volume). At least aportion of the laser light reflected from the scanned code symbol isdirected through the light transmission window, reflected off thestationary light reflective surfaces, reflected off the rotatingmirrors, collected by the light focusing mirror, and received by thephotodetector 41, whereupon an electrical signal is produced for use indecode signal processing. The details of such signal processingoperations, and the preferred means for achieving the same, can be bestunderstood with a detailed description of the scan and control dataprocessing circuitry embodied with the laser scanning device of thepresent invention.

As shown in FIG. 8, the automatic bar code symbol reading system of thepresent invention comprises the automatic laser scanning device of theillustrative embodiment in combination with a number of systemcomponents. These additional system components include: a primaryoscillator circuit 101 for producing a primary clock signal CLK for useby the object detection circuit 107; a first RC timing network 102 forsetting the oscillation frequency of the primary oscillator circuit;first control means 104, realized as a first control circuit C₁, forperforming localized system control functions; a second RC timingnetwork 105 for setting a timer T₁ in control circuit C₁ ; means (e.g.,an object sensing circuit 106 and an object detection circuit 107) forproducing a first activation control signal A₁ =1 upon the detection ofan object bearing a bar code in at least a portion of the objectdetection field; a laser beam scanning mechanism 108 for producing andscanning a visible laser beam across the bar code symbol on the detectedobject; photoreceiving circuit 109 for detecting laser light reflectedoff the scanned bar code symbol and producing an electrical signal D₁indicative of the detected intensity; a analog-to-digital (A/D)conversion circuit 110 for converting analog scan data signal D₁ into acorresponding digital scan data signal D₂ ; a bar code presencedetection circuit 111 for processing digital scan data signal D₂ inorder to automatically detect the digital data pattern of a bar codesymbol on the detected object and produce control activation signal A₂=1; a third RC timing network 112 for setting a timer T_(BCD) in the barcode symbol detection circuit; second control means 113, realized as asecond control circuit C₂ for performing local system control operationsin response to the detection of the bar code symbol; third control means114, realized as third control module C₃ ; a range selection circuit 115for supplying range selection signals to the object detection circuit;second control circuit C₂ and third control module C₃ ; timers T₂, T₃,and T₄ identified by reference numerals 116, 117 and 118, respectively;a symbol decoding module 119 for processing digital scan data signal D₂so as to determine the data represented by the detected bar code symbol,generate symbol character data representative thereof, and produceactivation control signal A₃ for use by third control module C₃ ; a datapacket synthesis module 120 for synthesizing a group of formatted datapackets for transmission to its mated base unit; and a data packettransmission circuit 121 for transmitting the group of data packetssynthesized by the data packet synthesis module. As will be described ingreater detail hereinafter, second control circuit C₂ is capable of"overriding" (i.e., inhibit and/or enable) first control circuit C₁,whereas third control module C₃ is capable of overriding first andsecond control circuits C₁ and C₂, respectively. As shown in FIG. 8,such control override functions are carried out by the generation ofcontrol override signals (i.e., C₂ /C₁, C₃ /C₂ and C₃ /C₁) transmittedbetween respective control structures. Owing to the unique architectureof the control subsystem hereof, the automatic bar code symbol readingdevice of the present invention is capable of versatile performance andultra-low power operation. The structure, function and advantages ofthis control subsystem architecture will become apparent hereinafter.

As shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 8A, battery power supply unit20 contained within the housing of the code symbol reading deviceprovides electrical power to the components therewithin in accordancewith a programmed mode of intelligent operation. In the illustrativeembodiment, battery power supply unit 20 comprises a power supplydistribution circuit 125, replaceable or rechargeable batteries 126, andan automatic power control circuit 130. In the illustrative embodiment,where rechargeable batteries are employed, the power supply circuit 20further includes a secondary inductive coil 127, bridge rectifier 128and voltage regulation circuit 129. Preferably, all of thesesubcomponents are contained within the hand-supportable housing of thedevice, and are configured together as shown in FIG. 8A.

As illustrated in FIG. 8A, the function of second inductive coil 128 isto establish an electromagnetic coupling with the primary inductive coilcontained in the base unit associated with the bar code reading devicewhenever the device is supported in the recharging portion of the baseunit. In this configuration, electrical power is inductively transferredfrom the primary inductive coil in the base unit to secondary inductivecoil 127, rectified by bridge rectifier 128, and filtered by voltageregulation circuit 129 to provide a regulated DC power supply forrecharging rechargeable batteries 126.

As shown in FIG. 8A, automatic power control circuit 130 is connected inseries between rechargeable battery 126 and power distribution circuit125. The function of automatic power control circuit 130 is to automaticcontrol (i.e. manage) the availablity of battery power toelectrically-active components within the bar code symbol reading devicewhen the device is operated in its hands-on mode of operation (i.e.removed from the scanner support stand) under a predefined set ofoperating conditions. Notably while power distribution circuit 125distributes electrical power throughout the bar code symbol readingdevice by way of a power distribution bus, automatic power controlcircuit 130 globally enables consumption of electrical power (i.e. theproduct of voltage and direct current) by the system components whenactivated.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the automatic power control circuit 130 comprises anumber of subcomponents, namely: a DC-to-DC voltage converter 130A; apower commutation switch 130B; and a resettable timer circuit 130C. Thefunction of the DC-to-DC voltage converter 103A is to convert thevoltage from battery power source 126 to +5 Volts, whereas the functionof the power commutation switch 130B is to selectively commuteelectrical power from the DC-to-DC converter 130A to the input port ofthe power distribution circuit 125. The function of the resettable timercircuit 130C is to control the power commutation circuit so that batterypower is provided to the power distribution circuit 125 in a powerconserving manner without compromising the performance of the bar codesymbol reading system in its various modes of operation.

In the illustrative embodiment, DC-to-DC converter 130A is realized byconfiguring a low-voltage input, adjustable output step-up DC-DCconverter (e.g. such as the MAX777 IC chip by MAXIM Integrated Products)with an inductor (e.g. 22.0 microHenries) and two capacitors, to producea 5.0 Volt output voltage for use in the bar code symbol reading device.As shown, resettable timer circuit 130C is realized by configuring acomparitor circuit 130C1 (e.g. as provided for example in the LM2903 ICchip by National Semiconductor) with external resistors R1, R2, R3, R4and R5 and charging capacitor C1. The function of the resistors R3 andR5 is to provide to one inputs of the comparitor a positive referencevoltage (i.e. Vref) which is close in magnitude to the battery voltageVbattery, with resistor R4 being connected to the output of thecomparitor for hysteresis. The power control switch 130B is realized byN-channel field effect transistor (FET), wherein the source terminal isconnected to the output port of the DC-to-DC converter 130A, the drainterminal is connector is connected to the input port of the powerdistribution circuitry 125, and the gate terminal is connected to theoutput port of the comparitor 130C1.

In the illustrative embodiment, there are three different powerswitching events which will reset the resettable timer circuit 130C,cause the comparitor thereof to produce a high output level and drivethe N-channel FET into conduction. The first power switching eventcomprises manually depressing power reset button 130D mounted on theexterior of the scanner housing. The second power switching eventcomprises placing the handle portion of the scanner housing within therecess of the scanner support stand hereof, whereby Hall-effect sensor100 within the handle of the housing detects magnetic flux produced frompermanent magnet 103 within the scanner support stand recess, as shownin FIG. 1E. The third power switching event comprises successfullyreading a bar code symbol and producing activation signal A3=1.

In order that such power switching events will effectively reset theresettable timer circuit 130C, a number of electrical devices areconnected to input port of the resettable timer circuit 130C,effectively realized by resistor R2. In particular, the "good read"activation signal A3=1 produced by symbol decoding module 119 isprovided to the base of a NPN transistor 130C2, which has its collectorterminal connected to one end of resistor R2 and its emitter terminalconnected to electrical ground. As shown, one terminal of manuallydepressible power reset button 130D (e.g. realized as a spring-biasedpush-type button switch) is connected to the same end of resistor R2, towhich the collector of NPN transistor 130C2 is connected, while theother terminal of power set button 130D is connected to electricalground. Also, one terminal of stand detector (e.g. Hall-effect sensor100) is connected to the same end of resistor R2, to which the collectorof NPN transistor 130C2 is connected, while the other terminal of theHall-effect sensor 100 is connected to electrical ground, as shown inFIG. 8A.

Battery supply 126 aboard the scanning device is automatically chargedto its normal output voltage (i.e. Vbattery) by way of batteryrecharging apparatus 127, 128 and 129. A predetermined time duration ΔT(e.g. 1 minute, preferably 5 minutes) after the occurrence of a powerswitching event, power supply unit 20 attains its steady-statecondition. At this state, capacitor C1 charges through resistor R1, to avoltage above Vref. This causes the output voltage of the capacitor130C1 to drop to a level which disables FET 130B, thereby disabling thesupply of battery power to power distribution circuit 125, andultimately disabling the scanning device. Upon the occurrence of any ofthe above three "power switching" events described above, capacitor C1quickly discharges through resistor R2 (i.e. R1>>R1), causing the outputvoltage of capacitor 130C1 to go to a level which enables FET 130B tosupply battery power to the power distribution circuitry 125, andthereby enabling the scanning device for the predetermined time period(e.g. ΔT greater than 1, preferably 5 minutes). This programmed durationof power supply provides a time window ΔT, within which the objectdetection circuit of the system hereof can automatically detect anobject within the object detection field. Such power resetting operationdoes not, however, initiate or otherwise cause laser scanning or barcode symbol reading operations to commence or cease. Only theintroduction of an object into the object detection field (i.e. when theresettable timer circuit 130C has been reset) can initiate or otherwisecause laser scanning or bar code symbol reading operations to commence.

A principal advantage of the power control scheme of the presentinvention is that it provides automatic power conservation in automaticcode symbol reading applications, while minimally impacting upon thediverse modes of automatic operation provided by the system hereof. Inparticular, provided that the user reads at least one bar code symbolwithin the predetermined time duration ΔT programmed into the bar codesymbol reading device, there is no need to reset the power controlcircuit hereof. Also, when the hand-supportable housing of the device isplaced (i.e. supported) within the support recess 60 of scanner supportportion of the base unit, Hall-effect sensor 103 produces a stand detectsignal which continuously causes power control circuit 130 to supplybattery power from continuously recharging battery 126, to the powerdistribution circuit 125, thereby enabling continuous scanner operationin the hands-free mode of operation.

Range selection circuit 115 may include a manual switch externallyaccessible to the housing, which the user can depress to select long orshort-range modes of object detection, bar code presence detectionand/or bar code symbol reading. Alternatively, Range Selection Circuit115 can be activated to a particular range setting by symbol decodingmodule 119. In this mode of operation, the range setting can be set bydecoding a bar code symbol predesignated to activate the long or shortrange modes of detection, as the case may be.

In the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, primaryoscillator circuit 101, object detection circuit 107, first controlcircuit C₁, analog-to-digital conversion circuit 110, bar code symboldetection circuit 111, and second control circuit C₂ are all realized ona single Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) chip 133 usingmicroelectronic circuit fabrication techniques known in the art. In theillustrative embodiment, the ASIC chip and associated circuits for laserscanning and light detection and processing functions are mounted onanalog signal processing board 40. Symbol decoding module 119, datapacket synthesis module 120, timers T₂, T₃, T₄, and T5 and third controlmodule C₃ are realized using a single programmable device, such as amicroprocessor having accessible program and buffer memory, and externaltiming circuitry, collectively depicted by reference numeral 134 in FIG.8. In the illustrative embodiment, these components and devices aremounted on the PC board 50.

In the illustrative embodiment, when power control switch 130 is in itsreset (i.e. POWER ON) state, power from battery power unit 126 isprovided to first control circuit C₁, primary oscillator circuit 101 andIR object sensing circuit 106 and object detection circuit 107 so as toenable their operation, while only biasing voltages are provided to allother system components so that they are each initially disabled fromoperation. When power control switch 130 is in its POWER OFF state,power from battery power unit 126 is not commuted to power distributioncircuit 125, and thus not provided to any components in the system. Aswill be described in greater detail hereinafter, provision of electricalpower to all other system components occurs under the management of thecontrol architecture formed by the interaction of distributed controlcenters C₁, C₂ and C₃.

As shown in FIG. 8, primary clock oscillator circuit 101 supplies aperiodic pulsed signal to both the system override signal detectioncircuit and the object detection circuit. In the illustrativeembodiment, the primary oscillation circuit is designed to operate at alow frequency (e.g., about 1.0 Khz) and a very low duty cycle (e.g,about 1.0%). The "ON" time for the system override signal producingmeans and the IR object sensing circuit is proportional to the dutycycle of the primary oscillation circuit. This feature allows forminimal operating current when the bar code symbol reading device is inthe object detection mode and also when the system override signalproducing device is activated (i.e., produces a system override signal).

As shown in FIG. 8B, primary oscillation circuit 101 comprises aSchmidtt trigger 142, invertors 143 and 144, and a NMOS Field-EffectTransistor (FET) 145. As shown, the output of trigger 142 is connectedto the inputs of both invertors 143 and 144. The output of invertor 143produces clock signal CLK which is provided to system override signaldetection circuit 100 and object detection circuit 107. The primaryoscillation circuit is connected to first RC network 102 which comprisesresistors R₁ and R₂, and capacitor C₁, configured as shown in FIG. 8B.The function of the RC network 102 is to establish the duty cycle andthe oscillation period of the primary oscillator circuit. As shown, twotime constants (i.e., loads) are established by the network usingcapacitor C₁ and resistors R₁, and R₂. The RC combination of R₁ and C₁establishes the period of the oscillator. The ratio of the R₂ to R₁provides the duty cycle of the oscillator. The value of R₂ isapproximately 100 times smaller than R₁ to establish a 1.0% duty cycle.As shown in the timing diagram of FIG. 8C, the clock signal CLK remainslow while the V₁ 1 signal ramps up. This ramp up time is the time ittakes for the capacitor C₁ to charge. The cugh R₁. The clock signal CLKthen goes HIGH for the shorter discharge time of the capacitor throughR₂. By adjusting the duty cycle (i.e., increasing or decreasing thevalue of resistor R₂), the sensitivity of the object detection circuitcan be tuned such that it activates consistently at a specified distancefrom the light transmission window of the bar code symbol readingdevice.

In accordance with the present invention, the purpose of objectdetection circuit 107 is to produce a first control activation signal A₁=1 upon determining that an object (e.g., product, document, etc.) ispresent within the object detection field of the bar code symbol readingdevice, and thus at least a portion of the scan field thereof. Asillustrated in FIG. 8, the object detection circuit is activated (i.e.,enabled) by enabling signal E₀ supplied from first control circuit C₁,and the object detection circuit provides the first control circuit C₁with first control activation signal A₁ =1 when an object residing inthe scan field is detected. In the illustrative embodiment, an "active"technique of automatic object detection is employed, although it isunderstood that "passive" techniques may be used with acceptableresults. As shown in FIG. 8, the object detection means of the systemcomprises two major subcomponents, namely object sensing circuit 106 andobject detection circuit 107, both of which are locally controlled bycontrol circuit C₁. In the illustrative embodiment, object sensingcircuit comprises an IR LED 148 driven by an IR transmitter drivecircuit 149, and an IR phototransistor (or photodiode) 150 activated byan IR receive biasing circuit 151. As shown in FIGS. 7D and 7F, thesecomponents are arranged and mounted on PC board 41 so as to provide anobject detection field that spatially encompasses the laser scanningplane, as described above. As shown in FIG. 8, the object detectioncircuit 107 produces an enable signal IR DR which is provided to the IRtransmitter drive circuit 149. The signal produced from IRphototransistor 151, identified as IR REC, is provided as input signalto the object detection circuit 107 for signal processing in a mannerwhich will be described in detail below. In the illustrative embodiment,infrared LED 148 generates a 900 nanometer signal that is pulsed at therate of the primary oscillation circuit 101 (e.g., 1.0 KHZ) when theobject detection circuit is enabled by enable signal E₀ produced fromthe first control circuit C₁. Preferably, the duty cycle of the primaryoscillation circuit 101 is less than 1.0% in order to keep the averagecurrent consumption very low.

As shown in FIG. 3A, in particular, this pulsed optical signal istransmitted from infrared LED 148 to broadly illuminate the scan field.When an object is present within the object detection portion of thescan field, a reflected optical pulse signal is produced and focussedthrough focusing lens 153 onto photodiode 150. The function ofphotodiode 150 is to receive (i.e., sense) the reflected optical pulsesignal and, in response thereto, produce a current signal IR REC.

As shown in FIG. 8D, produced current signal IR REC is provided as inputto the current-to-voltage amplifier (e.g., transconductance amplifier)155 in the object detection circuit, and is converted into a voltagesignal Vo. Within the object detection circuit 107, the infra-red LEDdrive signal IR DR is produced as the output of AND gate 157, whoseinputs are enabling signal E₀ supplied from the first control circuit C₁and the pulsed clock signal CLK supplied from the primary oscillationcircuit 101.

As shown in FIG. 8D, enabling signal E₀ is also provided tocurrent-to-voltage amplifier circuit 155, and the output voltage signalfrom AND gate 157 is provided as the second input to the synchronoustransmitter/receiver circuit 156. Notably, the output voltage signalfrom AND gate 157 and the output voltage signal V₀ from thecurrent-to-voltage amplifier correspond to the IR pulse signal trainstransmitted from and received by object sensing circuit 106. Thefunction of the synchronous transmitter/receiver circuit is tocyclically compare the output voltage signal from AND gate 157 and theoutput voltage signal V₀ from the current-to-voltage amplifier, and ifthese voltage signals synchronously match each other for a minimum ofthree (3) consecutive cycles of the primary oscillation circuit 101,then synchronous transmitter/receiver circuit 156 produces as output, afirst control activation signal A₁ =1, indicative that an object ispresent in the scan field of the bar code symbol reading device.Conversely, whenever first control activation signal A₁ =0 is produced,then this condition indicates that an object is not present in the scanfield.

Alternatively, the automatic bar code reading device of the presentinvention can be readily adapted to sense ultrasonic energy reflectedoff an object present within the scan field. In such an alternativeembodiment, object sensing circuit 106 is realized as an ultrasonicenergy transmitting/receiving mechanism. In the housing of the bar codereading device, ultrasonic energy is generated and transmitted forwardlyinto the scan field. Then, ultrasonic energy reflected off an objectwithin the object detection field is detected adjacent to thetransmission window using an ultrasonic energy detector that produces ananalog electrical signal (i.e., UE REC) indicative of the detectedintensity of received ultrasonic energy. Preferably, a focusing elementis disposed in front of the energy detector in order to effectivelymaximize the collection of ultrasonic energy reflected off objects inthe scan field. In such instances, the focusing element essentiallydetermines the geometrical characteristics of the object detection fieldof the device. Consequently, the energy focusing (i.e., collecting)characteristics of the focusing element will be selected to provide anobject detection field which spatially encompasses at least a portion ofthe scan field. The electrical signal produced from theultrasonic-energy based object sensing circuit is provided to objectdetection circuit 107 for processing in the manner described above.

In the illustrative embodiment, object detection circuit 107 is providedwith two different modes of detection, namely, a long-range mode ofobject detection and a short-range mode of object detection. As shown inFIGS. 8 and 8D, these modes are set by range selection circuit 115 usingmode enable signal R₁. When induced into the long-range mode of objectdetection, object detection circuit 107 will generate first controlactivation signal A₁ =1 whenever an object has been detected within theoperative range of the object detection field, independent of theparticular distance at which the object resides from the transmissivewindow. When induced into the short-range mode of object detection, theobject detection circuit will generate first activation control signalA₁ =1 only when an object is detected at a distance within theshort-range of the object detection field.

As schematically indicated in FIGS. 2 and 2A, the long-rangespecification for object detection is preferably preselected to be thefull or entire range of sensitivity provided by current-to-voltageamplifier (e.g., 0 to about 10 inches). Preferably, the short-rangespecification for object detection is preselected to be the reducedrange of sensitivity provided by the IR sensing circuit when mode enablesignal E_(IRT) =1 is provided to the desensitization port of amplifier155. In the illustrated embodiment, the short-range of object detectionis about 0 to about 3 inches or so to provide CCD-like scanneremulation. As will become apparent hereinafter, the inherently limiteddepth and width of field associated with the short-range mode of objectdetection prevents laser scanning mechanism 108 from flooding the scanfield with laser scanning light and thus inadvertently detectingundesired bar code symbols. Particular uses to which object detectionrange selection can be put, will be described in greater detailhereinafter.

As shown in FIG. 8D, the sensitivity (i.e., gain) of current-to-voltageamplifier 155 is controlled by a sensitivity control signal E_(IRT)produced from range control signal generating circuit 158. In theillustrative embodiment, the sensitivity control signal E_(IRT) 160 isproduced by a resistance network whose values are selected using ananalog switch that is responsive to a range select signal R₁ produced byrange selection circuit 115. As such, the sensitivity of thecurrent-to-voltage amplifier is simply adjusted by selecting one of tworesistance values within the resistance network used to realize rangecontrol signal generating circuit 158. The short range mode of objectdetection is enabled by selecting a resistance value that produces anamplifier gain that is lower than that produced during the long-rangemode of object detection where detectable objects can reside furtheraway from the light transmission window of the bar code symbol readingdevice.

In general, first control logic block C₁ provides the first level ofsystem control. This control circuit activates the object detectioncircuit 107 by generating enable signal E₀ =1, it activates laser beamscanning circuit 108, photoreceiving circuit 109 and A/D conversioncircuit 110 by generating enable signal E₁ =1, and it activates bar codesymbol detection circuit 111 by generating enable signal E₂ =1. Inaddition, the first control circuit C₁ provides control lines andsignals in order to control these functions, and provides a systemoverride function for the low power standby mode of the bar code symbolreading device. In the illustrative embodiment, the specific operationof first control circuit C₁ is dependent on the state of several sets ofinput signals (i.e., activation control signal A₀ and A₁, and overridesignals C₂ /C₁, C₃ /C₁ -1 and C₃ /C₁ -2) and an internally generateddigital timer signal B. A preferred logic implementation of the firstcontrol circuit C₁ is set forth in FIGS. 8E and 8F. The functionaldependencies among the digital signals in this circuit are representedby the Boolean logic expressions set forth in the Table of FIG. 8G, andtherefore are sufficient to uniquely characterize the operation of firstcontrol circuit C₁.

As shown in FIG. 8E, first control circuit comprises a pair of logicinvertors 161 and 162, a NAND gate 164, a NOR gate 165, an AND gate 166,and a digital timer circuit 167 which produces as output, a digitaloutput signal B. As shown, digital timer circuit 167 comprises aflip-flop circuit 170, a NOR gate 171, a clock divide circuit 173, acomparator (i.e., differential) amplifier 172, and a NPN transistor 174.As illustrated, activation control signal A₁ is provided to the CLKinput of flip-flop 170 by way of invertor 161. The QNOT output of theflip-flop is provided as one input to NOR gate 171, whereas the otherinput thereof is connected to the CLK input of clock divide circuit 173and the output of comparator amplifier 172. The output of the NOR gateis connected to the base of transistor 174, while the emitter thereof isconnected to electrical ground and the collector is connected to thenegative input of comparator amplifier 172 as well as the second timingnetwork 105, in a manner similar to the interconnection of first timingnetwork 102 to primary oscillation circuit 101. Also, the divided clockoutput (i.e., CLK/2048) produced from clock divide circuit 173 isprovided to the CL input of flip-flop 170. As shown, the Q output offlip-flop 170 is connected to the reset (RST) input of the clock dividecircuit 173 as well as to one input of NAND gate 164, one input of NORgate 165, and one input of AND gate 166. Notably, the Q output of theflip-flop is the digital output signal B indicated in each of theBoolean expressions set forth in the Table of FIG. 8G.

As shown in FIG. 8E, the override signal C₂ /C₁ from second controlcircuit C₂ is provided as the input to invertor 162, whereas the outputthereof is provided as the second input to AND gate 166. The overridesignal C₃ /C₁ -1 from third control module C₃ is provided as the secondinput to NAND gate 164, whereas the output thereof produces enablesignal E₀ for activating the object detection circuit 107. The overridesignal C₃ /C₁ -2 is provided to the second input to NOR gate 165,whereas the output thereof produces enable signal E₁ for activatinglaser scanning and photoreceiving circuits 108 and 109 and A/Dconversion circuit 110. The output of AND gate 166 produces enablesignal E₂ for activating bar code symbol detection circuit 111.

Referring to FIG. 8E, the operation of digital timer circuit will bedescribed. The output voltage of comparator amplifier 172 keepstransistor 174 in its non-conducting state (i.e., OFF), via NOR gate171, thus allowing the external RC network 105 to charge to capacity.When comparator input voltage Vx exceeds reference voltage VCC/2, thecomparator output voltage biases (i.e., switches ON) transistor 174 soas to begin discharging the RC timing network 105, until input voltageVx falls below reference voltage VCC/2 upon which the process repeats,thus generating a digital clock oscillation at the comparator output.The timing cycle of digital output signal B is initiated by a transitionon the activation control signal A₁ which toggles flip-flop 170. Thistoggling action sets the digital output signal B to its logical HIGHstate, resetting clock divide circuit 173 and starting the digital clockoscillator described above by toggling the Q output of flip-flop 170. Asshown in FIG. 8F, clock divide circuit 173 is constructed by cascadingeleven flip-flop circuits together in a conventional manner. Each stageof the clock divider circuit divides the input clock signal frequency bythe factor 2. Thus the clock divider circuit provides an overalldivision factor of 2048. When the clock output CLK/2048 toggles, theflip-flop circuit is cleared thus setting the digital signal B tological LOW until the next pulse of the activation control signal A₁.

As reflected in the Boolean expressions of FIG. 8G, the state of each ofthe enable signals E₀, E₁ and E₂ produced by the first control circuitC₁ is dependent on whether the bar code symbol reading system is in itsoverride state of operation. To better understand the operation ofcontrol circuit C₁, it is helpful to consider a few control strategiespreformed thereby.

In the override state of operation of the system, enable signal E₀ canbe unconditionally set to E₀ 32 0 by the third control circuit C₃setting override signal C₃ /C₁ =0. Under such conditions, the objectdetection circuit is enabled. Also, when the laser scanning andphotoreceiving circuits are activated (i.e., B=1) and override signal C₃/C₁ -1=1, then enable signal E₀ =1 and therefore the object detectioncircuit is automatically deactivated. The advantage of this controlstrategy is that it is generally not desirable to have both the laserscanning circuit 108 and photoreceiving circuit 109 and the objectsensing circuit 105 active at the same time, as the wavelength of theinfrared LED 148 typically falls within the optical input spectrum ofthe photoreceiving circuit 109. In addition, less power is consumed whenthe object detection circuit 107 is inactive (i.e., disabled).

As illustrated in FIG. 8, laser scanning circuit 108 comprises asolid-state visible laser diode (VLD) 177 driven by a conventionaldriver circuit 178. In the illustrative embodiment, the wavelength ofvisible laser light produced from the laser diode is preferably about670 nanometers. In order to repeatedly scan the produced laser beam overthe scanning volume, the rotating polygon is rapidly accelerated tooperating speed by motor 37 driven by a conventional driver circuit 181,as shown. Stationary mirror 44 directs the laser beam from the laserdiode to the rotating polygon. To selectively activate both laser lightsource 38 and motor 37, a laser diode and scanning motor enable signalE₁ is provided as input to driver circuits 178 and 181. When enablesignal E₁ is a logical "high" level (i.e., E₁ =1) a laser beam isgenerated and projected through the light transmissive window, when theprojected laser beam is repeatedly scanned through the scanning volume,and an optical scan data signal is thereby produced off the object (andbar code) residing within the scanning volume. When laser diode andscanning motor enable signal E₁ is a logical "low" (i.e., E₁ =0), thereis no laser beam produced, projected, or scanned across the scanningvolume.

When a bar code symbol is present on the detected object at the time ofscanning, the visible laser beam is automatically scanned across the barcode symbol within the 3-D scanning volume, and incident laser light onthe bar code symbol will be scattered and reflected. Thisscattering/reflection process produces a laser light return signal ofvariable intensity which represents a spatial variation of lightreflectivity characteristic of the pattern of bars and spaces comprisingthe bar code symbol. Photoreceiving circuit 109 detects at least aportion of the reflected laser light of variable intensity and producesan analog scan data signal D₁ indicative of the detected lightintensity.

In the illustrative embodiment, photoreceiving circuit 109 generallycomprises a number of components, namely: laser light collection optics(i.e., stationary mirror array 38 and focusing mirror 43) for focusingreflected laser light for subsequent detection; photoreceiver 41 (e.g.,a silicon photosensor) mounted onto PC board 40, as shown in FIG. 5D,for detecting laser light focused by the light collection optics; andfrequency selective filter 186A, mounted in front of photoreceiver 41,for transmitting thereto only optical radiation having wavelengths up toa small band above 670 nanometers.

In order to prevent optical radiation slightly below 670 nanometers frompassing through light transmission aperture 12A and entering thehousing, the light transmissive window 68 realized as a plastic filterlens is installed over the light transmission aperture of the housing.This plastic filter lens has optical characteristics which transmit onlyoptical radiation from slightly below 670 nanometers. In this way, thecombination of plastic filter lens 12 at the transmission aperture andfrequency selective filter 186A before photoreceiver 41 cooperate toform a narrow band-pass optical filter having a center frequency f_(c)=670 nanometers. By permitting only optical radiation associated withthe visible laser beam to enter the housing, this optical arrangementprovides improved signal-to-noise ratio for detected scan data signalsD₁. This novel filtering optical arrangement is disclosed in greaterdetail in copending application Ser. No. 08/439,224, supra now U.S. Pat.No. 5,627,359.

In response to reflected laser light focused onto photo receiver 41,photoreceiver 41 produces an analog electrical signal which isproportional to the intensity of the detected laser light. This analogsignal is subsequently amplified by preamplifier 187 to produce analogscan data signal D₁. In short, laser scanning circuit 108 andphotoreceiving circuit 109 cooperate to generate analog scan datasignals D₁ from the scan field, over time intervals specified by firstcontrol circuit C₁ during normal modes of operation, and by thirdcontrol module C₃ during "control override" modes of operation.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, analog scan data signal D₁ is provided asinput to A/D conversion circuit 110, shown in FIG. 8H. In a manner wellknown in the art, A/D conversion circuit 110 processes analog scan datasignal D₁ to provide a digital scan data signal D₂ which has a waveformthat resembles a pulse width modulated signal, where logical "1" signallevels represent spaces of the scanned bar code and logical "0" signallevels represent bars of the scanned bar code. A/D conversion circuit110 can be realized using any conventional A/D conversion techniqueswell known in the art. Digitized scan data signal D₂ is then provided asinput to bar code presence detection circuit 111 and symbol decodingmodule 119 for use in performing particular functions required duringthe bar code symbol reading process of the present invention.

The primary purpose of bar code presence detection circuit 111 is todetermine whether a bar code is present in or absent from the scanfield, over time intervals specified by first control circuit C₁ duringnormal modes of operation and by third control module C₃ during controloverride modes of operation. In the illustrative embodiment, bar codepresence detection circuit 111 indirectly detects the presence of a barcode in the narrowly-confined scanning volume 13 by detecting its barcode symbol "envelope". In the illustrative embodiment, a bar codesymbol envelope is deemed present in the scanning volume upon detectinga corresponding digital pulse sequence in digital signal D₂ that A/Dconversion circuit 110 produces when photoreceiving circuit 109 detectslaser light reflected off a bar code symbol scanned by the laser beamproduced by laser beam scanning circuit 108. This digital pulse sequencedetection process is achieved by counting the number of digital pulsetransitions (i.e., falling pulse edges) that occur in digital scan datasignal D₂ within a predetermined time period T₁ clocked by the bar codesymbol detection circuit. According to the laws of physics governing thelaser scanning operation, the number of digital (pulse-width modulated)pulses detectable at photoreceiver 41 during time period T₁ is afunction of the distance of the bar code from the light transmissionwindow 12 at the time of scanning. Thus a bar code symbol scanned at 6"from the light transmission window will produce a larger number ofdigital pulses (i.e., digital count) at photoreceiver 41 during timeperiod T₁ than will the same bar code symbol scanned at 3" from thelight transmission window.

In the illustrative embodiment, the bar code symbol detection circuit111 is provided with the capacity to detect the presence of a bar codesymbol in either the long or short range portions of the scanningvolume, as specified in FIGS. 3 and 3A. This is achieved by counting thedigital pulse transitions present in digital scan signal D₂ withinpredetermined time period T₁ and producing second control activationsignal A_(2S) (i.e., A_(2S) =1) when the counted number of pulsetransitions equals or exceeds a first prespecified digital pulsetransition count corresponding to a bar code symbol scanned in the shortrange portion of the scan field, and producing second control activationsignal A_(2L) (i.e., A_(2L) =1) when the counted number of pulsetransitions equals or exceeds a second prespecified digital pulsetransition count corresponding to a bar code symbol scanned in the longrange portion of the scanning volume. As shown in FIG. 8, both of thesesecond control activation signals A_(2L) and A_(2S) are produced andprovided as input to second control circuit C₂. However, second controlcircuit C₂ selectively provides (e.g., gates) the second controlactivation signal that corresponds to range-mode of operation selectedby the user. When the long range mode of operation has been selected byrange selection circuit 115, the device will automatically undergo atransition from bar code presence detection state to bar code symbolreading state upon receiving control activation signal A_(2L) =1.Similarly, when the short range mode of operation has been selected bythe range selection circuit 115, the device will automatically undergo atransition from bar code presence detection state to bar code symbolreading state upon receiving control activation signal A_(2S) =1.

In the illustrative embodiment, bar code symbol presence detectioncircuit 111 comprises a digital pulse transition counter 190 forcounting digital pulse transitions during time period T₁, and a digitalclock circuit (i.e., T_(BCD) circuit) 191 for measuring (i.e., counting)time period T_(BCD) and producing a count reset signal CNT RESET at theend of each such time period, as shown in FIG. 8K. As shown in FIG. 8K,the function of digital clock circuit 191 is to provide a time periodT_(BCD) (i.e., time window subdivision) within which the bar code symboldetection circuit attempts, repeatedly during time period T₁, to detecta bar code symbol in the scan field. In the preferred embodiment, TBCDis about 0.1 seconds, whereas T₁ is about 1.0 second. As shown in FIG.8I, in order to establish such "bar code search" time subintervalswithin time period T₁, the digital clock circuit 191 generates the firstcount reset pulse signal CNT RESET upon the detection of the first pulsetransition in digital scan data signal D₂. The effect of this resetsignal is to clear or reset the digital pulse transition (falling edge)counter. Then at the end of each time subinterval T_(BCD), digital clocksignal 191 generates another count reset pulse CNT RESET to reset thedigital pulse transition counter. If during time window T₁, a sufficientnumber of pulse transitions in signal D₂ are counted over a subintervalT_(BCD), then either control activation signal A_(2L) or A_(2S) will beset to "1". In response to the detection of this condition, secondcontrol circuit C₂ automatically enables control activation C₃ in orderto initiate a transition from the bar code symbol detection state ofoperation to the bar code symbol reading state of operation.

As shown in FIG. 8I, digital pulse transition counter 191 is formed bywiring together a series of four flip-flop circuits 192 to 195, suchthat each flip flop divides the clock signal frequency of the previousstage by a factor of 2. As indicated in the drawing of FIG. 8I, the Qoutput of flip flops 192 to 194 represent the binary digits 2, 4, 8, and16 respectively, of a binary number (i.e., counting) system. As shown,enable signal E₂ from first control circuit C₁ is provided as input toNOR gate 197, while the second input thereto is the counter reset signalCNT RESET provided from the digital counter circuit 191. In order toreset or clear the pulse transition counter circuit 190 upon thegeneration of each CNT RESET pulse, the output of the NOR gate 197 isconnected to the clear line (CL) of each flip flop 192 to 195, as shown.

As illustrated in FIG. 8I, digital clock circuit 191 comprises aflip-flop circuit 198, a NOR gate 199, a clock divide circuit 200, acomparator 201, and a NPN transistor 202. As illustrated, digital scandata signal D₂ is directly provided to the CLK input of flip-flop 198.The QNOT output of the flip-flop is provided as one input to NOR gate199, whereas the Q output thereof is connected to the CLK input of clockdivide circuit 200 and the second input of NOR gate 197. The other inputof NOR gate 199 is connected to the input line CLK of clock dividecircuit 200 and to the output of comparator 201, as shown. The output ofthe NOR gate is connected to the base of transistor 202, while theemitter thereof is connected to electrical ground and the collector isconnected to the negative input of comparator 201 as well as to thethird timing network 112, in a manner similar to the interconnection ofthe first timing network 102 to primary oscillation circuit 101. Asshown in FIG. 8J, clock divide circuit 200 is realized as series of fiveflip-flops 200A to 200E wired together so as to divide digital clockinput signal CLOCK by 32, and be resettable by pulsing reset line RESETin a conventional manner.

When an object is detected in the scan field, first control circuit C₁produces enable signal E₂ =1 so as to enable digital pulse transitioncounter 190 for a time duration of T₁. As shown, the digital scan datasignal D₂ (representing the bars and spaces of the scanned bar code)drives the clock line of first flip flop 192, as well as the clock lineof flip flop 198 in the T_(BCD) timer circuit. The first pulsetransition in digital scan data signal D₂ starts digital timer circuit191. The production of each count reset pulse CNT RESET from digitaltimer circuit 191 automatically clears the digital pulse transitioncounter circuit 190, resetting it once again to count the number ofpulse transitions present in the incoming digital scan data signal D₂over a new time subinterval T_(BCD). The Q output corresponding to eightpulse transitions counted during time period TBC_(D), provides controlactivation signal A₂ S for use during the short range mode of operation.The Q output corresponding to sixteen pulse transitions counted duringtime period T_(BCD), provides control activation signal A₂ L for useduring the long range mode of operation. When the presence of a bar codein the scan field is detected, second activation control signal A_(L2)or A_(2S) is generated, third control circuit C₃ is activated and secondcontrol circuit C₂ is overridden by third control circuit C₃ through thetransmission of control override signals (i.e., C₃ /C₂ inhibit and C₃/C₁ enable signals) from the third control circuit C₃.

As illustrated in FIG. 8L, second control circuit C₂ is realized usinglogic circuitry consisting of NAND gates 205 to 208, invertors 209 and210, NOR gates 211 to 213, NAND gates 214 and 215, AND gate 216,configured together as shown. As shown, second control activationsignals A_(2S) and A_(2L) are provided to the first inputs of NAND gates214 and 215, respectively, whereas the outputs of NOR gates 211 and 212are provided to the second inputs of NAND gates 214 and 215respectively. The outputs of NAND gates 214 and 215 are provided to theinputs of AND gate 216 and the output thereof provides enable signal E₃for enabling third control module C₃.

As shown in FIG. 8L, the third control module C₃ provides overridesignals C₃ /C₂ -1 and C₃ /C₂ -2 to the first and second inputs of NANDgate 205 and to the first input of NAND gate 207 and the first input ofNAND gate 208, respectively. The range selection signal R produced fromrange selection circuit 115 is provided as input to NAND gate 206. Asshown, output of NAND gate 205 is provided as the second input to NANDgate 206. The output of NAND gate 206 is provided as the second input toNAND gate 207 and the second input to NAND gate 208. As shown in FIG.8L, the output of NAND gate 207 is provided as an input to NOR gate 211and invertor 209, whereas the output of NAND gate 208 is provided asinputs to NOR gates 211 and 212 and invertor 210. The output of invertor209 is provided as the other input to NOR gate 212 and one input to NORgate 213. The output of invertor 210 is provided as another input to NORgate 213, whereas the output thereof provides control override signal C₂/C₁. So configured, the combinational logic of the second controlcircuit C₂ maps its input signals to its output signals in accordancewith the logic table of FIG. 8M.

Upon entering the bar code symbol reading state, third control module C₃provides override control signal C₃ /C₁ to first control circuit C₁ andsecond control circuit C₂. In response to control signal C₃ /C₁, thefirst control circuit C₁ produces enable signal E₁ =1 which enablesscanning circuit, 109 photo-receiving circuit 109 and A/D conversioncircuit 110. In response to control signal C₃ /C₂, the second controlcircuit C₂ produces enable signal E₂ =0, which disables bar code symboldetector circuit 111. Thereafter, third control module C₃ producesenable signal E₄ to enable symbol decoding module 119. In response tothe production of such signals, the symbol decoding module decodeprocesses, scan line by scan line, the stream of digitized scan datacontained in signal D₂ in an attempt to decode the detected bar codesymbol within the second predetermined time period T₂ established andmonitored by the third control module C₃. If the symbol decoding module119 successfully decodes the detected bar code symbol within time periodT₂, then symbol character data D₃ (representative of the decoded barcode symbol and typically in ASCII code format) is produced. Thereuponsymbol decoding module 119 produces and provides the third controlactivation signal A₃ to the third control module C₃ in order to induce atransition from the bar code symbol reading state to the data packettransmission state. In response thereto, a two distinct events occur.First the third control module C₃ produces and provides enable signal E₅to data packet synthesis module 120. Secondly, symbol decoding module119 stores symbol character data D₃ in a memory buffer associated withdata packet synthesis module 120.

In the illustrative embodiment, symbol decoding module 119, data packetsynthesis module 120, and timers T₂, T₃, T₄ and T5 are each realizedusing programmed microprocessor and accessible memory 134. Similarly,third control module C₃ and the control functions which it performs atBlocks I to GG in FIGS. 13A and 13C, are realized as a programmingimplementation using techniques well known in the art.

The function of data packet synthesis module 120 is to use the producedsymbol character data to synthesize a group of data packets forsubsequent transmission to its assigned base unit by way of data packettransmission circuit 121.

In the illustrative embodiment, each synthesized data packet isformatted as shown in FIG. 8N. In particular, each data packet in eachdata packet group comprises a number of data fields, namely: Start ofPacket Field 220 for containing a digital code indicating the beginningof the transmitted data packet; Transmitter Identification Number Field221 for containing a digital code representative of the Transmitting BarCode Symbol Reader; Data Packet Group Number Field 222 for containing adigital code (i.e., a first module number) assigned to each particulardata packet group being transmitted; Data Packet Transmission No. Field223 for containing a digital code (i.e., a second module number)assigned to each data packet in each data packet group beingtransmitted; Symbol Character Data Field 224 for containing digital coderepresentative of the symbol character data being transmitted to thebase unit; Error Correction Code Field 225 for containing a digitalerror correction code for use by the receiving base unit to determine iferror in data packet transmission has occurred; and End of Packet Fieldfor 226 for containing a digital code indicating the end of thetransmitted data packet.

After the data packet synthesis module synthesizes a group of datapackets as described above, the third control module C₃ provides enablesignal E₇ to data packet transmission circuit 121. As illustrated inFIG. 9, the data packet transmission circuit comprises a carrier signalgeneration circuit 230, a carrier signal frequency modulation circuit231, a power amplifier 232, a matching filter 233, and a quarterwave(1/4) transmitting antenna element 234. The function of the carriersignal generation circuit 230 is to generate a carrier signal having afrequency in the RF region of the electromagnetic spectrum. In theillustrative embodiment, the carrier frequency is about 912 Mhz,although it is understood that this frequency may vary from oneembodiment of the present invention, to another embodiment thereof. Asthe carrier signal is being transmitted from transmitting antenna 234,frequency modulation circuitry 231 modulates the instantaneous frequencyof the carrier signal using the digital data sequence (i.e., digitaldata stream) 235 constituting the group of data packets synthesized bythe data packet synthesis module 120. The function of the poweramplifier is to amplify the power of the transmitted modulated carriersignal so that it may be received by a base unit of the presentinvention located within a predetermined data transmission range (e.g.,from about 0 to about 30 feet).

In general, each base unit of the present invention performs a number offunctions. First, the base unit receives the modulated carrier signaltransmitted from a hand-supportable bar code symbol reading devicewithin the data reception range of the base unit. Secondly, the baseunit demodulates the received carrier signal to recover the data packetmodulated thereunto during signal transmission. Thirdly, the base unitanalyzes each of the recovered data packets to determine whether thereceived carrier signal was transmitted from a hand-supportable bar codesymbol reading device preassigned to the receiving base unit. Fourthly,the base unit recovers the symbol character data from at least one datapacket in a transmitted group of data packets, and ascertaining thereliability of the recovered symbol character data. Fifthly, the baseunit generates an acoustical acknowledgement signal S_(ACK) that can beaudibly perceived by the operator of the transmitting bar code symbolreading device while located in the data reception range of the baseunit. Finally, the base unit transmits the received symbol characterdata to a host computer system or like device. Each of these functionswill be described in greater detail during the detailed description ofthe Main System Control Routine set forth in FIGS. 13A to 13C.

In order to better understand the functions performed by the bar codesymbol reading device and base unit of the present invention, it will behelpful to first describe the principles underlying the datacommunication method of the present invention, and thereafter discussthe role that the base unit plays in carrying out this communicationmethod.

In general, one or more bar code symbol reading devices can be mated(i.e. registered or assigned) to operate with a single base unit 3. In afirst illustrative embodiment of the present invention, each bar codesymbol reading device is a (resultant) system of bar code symbol readingsubsystems installed in physical proximity with each other. Typically,each system is a point of sale (POS) station comprising (i) a hostcomputer system interfaced with a base unit of the present invention and(ii) an automatic hand-supportable bar code symbol reading devicepreassigned to one of the base units. In such an illustrativearrangement, each bar code symbol reading device is mated (i.e.registered or associated) with a single base unit by storing a unique,preassigned "Transmitter Identification Code" in a memory device withinthe assigned base unit during a set-up procedure.

In the illustrative embodiment, the carrier frequency of the data packettransmitter in each bar code symbol reading device is substantially thesame for all bar code symbol reading devices in the resultant system.Also, the data packet transmission range of each bar code symbol readingdevice will be substantially greater than the distance between each barcode symbol reading device and a neighboring base unit to which the barcode symbol reading unit is not assigned. Consequently, under suchoperating conditions, at any instance in time, any base station in theresultant system may simultaneously receive two or more packet modulatedcarrier signals which have been transmitted from two or more bar codesymbol reading devices being used in the resultant system. These barcode symbol reading devices may include the bar code symbol readingdevice preassigned to the particular base unit as well as neighboringbar code symbol reading devices. Thus due to the principles of datapacket transmission of present invention, there exists the possibilitythat any particular base unit may simultaneously receive two or moredifferent data packets at any instant in time, thereby creating a"packet interference" situation.

In order to ensure that each base unit in the resultant system iscapable of receiving at least one data packet from a data packet grouptransmitted by its preassigned bar code symbol reading device (i.e.,without risk of interference from neighboring bar code symbol readingdevice transmitters), the unique "data packet group" transmission schemeshown in FIG. 10 is employed. As shown, upon the successful reading of afirst bar code symbol and the production of its symbol character dataD₃, data packet synthesis module 120 aboard the bar code symbol readingdevice automatically produces a first (i.e., N=1) group of (three) datapackets, each having the packet format shown in FIG. 9. Thereafter, thedata packet transmission circuit 121 uses the digital data bit stream,representative of the synthesized data packet group, to modulate acarrier signal transmitted from the hand-supportable bar code symbolreading device.

In the illustrative example shown FIG. 10, only the second and thirddata packets of the group sent over the modulated carrier signal areshown as being received by the preassigned base unit. As shown in thisdrawing, the base unit transmits the recovered symbol character data D₃to its host computer system, upon receiving the second data packet inthe transmitted group of data packets. Thereafter, the base unitproduces an acoustical acknowledgement signal SACK of sufficientintensity that it can be easily heard by the operator of the bar codesymbol reading device that transmitted the received data packet. Thefunction of the acoustical acknowledgment signal is to provide theoperator with an audible acknowledgement that the symbol character dataD₃ (associated with the recently read bar code symbol) has been receivedby the base unit and transmitted to its host computer system forprocessing and or subsequent storage. Notably, while the third datapacket N₃ is also received by the base unit, the availableacknowledgement signal S_(ACK) and symbol character data transmission isnot produced as packet N₃ contains redundant information alreadyreceived by the second packet N₂ of the same group.

In the preferred embodiment, the pitch of the transmitted acousticalacknowledgement signal S_(ACK) is uniquely specified and assigned to aparticular bar code symbol reading unit. This way the operator of eachbar code symbol reading (sub) system can easily recognize (i.e.,discern) the audible acoustical acknowledgement signal produced from thebase unit preassigned to his or her bar code symbol reading device. Atthe same time, this pitch assignment scheme allows each operator toignore audible acoustical acknowledgment signals produced fromneighboring base units not mated with his or her portable bar codesymbol reading device. If after reading a bar code symbol, the operatordoes not see the visual "good read" indication light on its device"flash" or "blink" and immediately thereafter hear its preassignedacoustical acknowledgement signal emanate from its base unit, then theoperator is implicitly informed that the symbol character data of theread bar code symbol was not successfully received by the base unit. Inresponse to such an event, the operator simply rereads the bar codesymbol and awaits to hear the acoustical acknowledgment signal emanatingfrom the base unit.

Notably, it may even be desirable in some operating environments toproduce acoustical acknowledgement signals in the form of a uniqueseries of notes preassigned to a bar code symbol reading device and its"mated" base unit. The pitch or note sequence assigned to each matedbase unit and bar code symbol reading device can be stored in a memory(e.g., EPROM) realized in the base unit, and can be programmed at thetime of system set-up and modified as required. Preferably, each pitchand each note sequence is selected so that it can be readilydistinguished and recognized by the operator to which it is uniquelydirected.

Also shown in FIG. 10 is the case where the bar code symbol readingdevice reads a second bar code symbol and then transmits a second (N=2)group of data packets. However, due to interference only the third datapacket in the second transmitted group of data packets is received atthe respective base unit. Despite such group transmission errors (e.g.,due to channel corruption or non-radio transmissive obstructions), thebase unit as shown is nevertheless able to recover the transmittedsymbol character data. Upon receiving the third data packet, recoveringthe packaged symbol character data and transmitting the same to the hostcomputer system, the bar code symbol reading device generates anacoustical acknowledgement signal having a pitch or note sequence thatthe operator can hear and recognize as an indication that the datapacket reception was successful.

In FIGS. 11 and 12, the data packet transmission and reception scheme ofthe present invention is shown for the case of three station system. Inthe best case scenario shown in FIG. 11, the group of data packetstransmitted from each bar code symbol reading device is transmitted at atime when there are no neighboring bar code symbol reading devicestransmitting data packets. This case will occur most frequently, as thetotal transmission times for each group of data packets is selected tobe substantially smaller than the random time durations lapsingnaturally between adjacent data packet transmissions from neighboringbar code symbol reading devices. This fact is illustrated in FIG. 11, inwhich (i) a group of data packets from bar code reading device No. 1 aretransmitted between adjacent groups of data packet transmitted from barcode symbol reading devices Nos. 2, 3 and 4 without the occurrence ofdata packet interference (i.e., collision). In most instances, the timedelay between consecutive groups of data packets transmitted from anyparticular bar code symbol reading device, will be sufficient to permita neighboring bar code symbol reading device to transmit at least onedata packet to its base unit without the occurrence of data packetinterference.

In accordance with the data transmission scheme of the presentinvention, data packet interference is minimized by the random presenceof interference-free time slots, during which a transmitted data packetcan be received at its respective base unit without neighboring packetinterference. However, the present invention employs additional measuresto further reduce the likelihood of data packet interference. Suchmeasures are best appreciated when considering a high-density datapacket transmission environment, in which a number of closely situatedneighboring bar code symbol readers are each attempting to transmit agroup of data packets to its preassigned base unit. In general, suchoperating conditions would present a worst case scenario for the datapacket transmission scheme of the present invention.

In the worst case scenario shown in FIG. 12, each of the fourneighboring bar code symbol reading devices is assumed to consecutivelyread two bar code symbols and simultaneously begin the transmission ofthe first data packet in the first group of data packets correspondingto the first read bar code symbol. As mentioned above, each data packetis formatted essentially the same way, has substantially the same packetwidth, and is transmitted on a carrier signal having a frequency whichis substantially the same as all other carrier signals transmittedthroughout the system. In accordance with the principles of the presentinvention, the data packet transmission circuit 121 in each bar codesymbol reading device is preprogrammed to transmit adjacent data packetswith a different "time delay", as shown in FIG. 12. This condition isachieved throughout the resulting system by assigning a different PacketTime Delay to each having a different Transmitter Identification Number,and then programming the bar code symbol reading device with thepreassigned Packet Time Delay parameter. As illustrated in FIG. 12, thevalue of the Packet Time Delay parameter programmed in each bar codesymbol reading device is selected so that, when the neighboring bar codesymbol reading devices simultaneously transmit groups of data packets,each base unit in the resulting system is capable of receiving at leastone data packet (in a group thereof) that has been transmitted from itspreassigned bar code symbol reading device. In general, the data packetdelay scheme of the present invention involves selecting and programmingthe Packet Time Delay parameter in each bar code symbol reading deviceso that each base unit is periodically provided a vacant time slot,during which one transmitted data packet in each group thereof can bereceived free of "data packet interference", as shown in FIG. 12. Theadvantage of providing a packet time delay among the data packets ofeach transmitted group thereof is that rereading and retransmission ofbar code symbols is effectively minimized under the data packettransmission scheme of the present invention.

Having described the detailed structure and internal functions ofautomatic bar code symbol reading device of the present invention, theoperation of the control system thereof will now be described whilereferring to the system block diagram shown in FIG. 8 and control BlocksA to GG in FIGS. 13A to 13CC.

Beginning at the START block of Main System Control Routine andproceeding to Block A of Fig.13A, the bar code symbol reading system is"initialized". This initialization step involves activating systemoverride circuit 100, first control circuit C₁ and oscillator circuit101. It also involves deactivating (i.e., disabling): (i) all externalsystem components except the range selection circuit 115 and systemoverride signal producing means 103 (i.e., infrared sensing circuit 105,laser scanning circuit 108, and photoreceiving circuit 109); (ii) allsubcircuits aboard ASIC chip 133 not associated with the system overridecircuit 100, such as object detection circuit 107, A/D conversioncircuitry 110, second control circuit C₂ and bar code presence detectioncircuit 111; and (iii) third control module 114, symbol decoding module119 and data packet synthesis module 120. In addition, all timers T₁,T₂, T₃, T₄, and T₅ are reset to t=0.

Proceeding to Block B in FIG. 13A, the first control circuit C₁ checksto determine whether it has received control activation signal A₀ =1from system override detection circuit 100. If this signal is received,then the first control circuit C₁ returns to Block A. If controlactivation signal A₀ =1 is not received, then at Block C the firstcontrol circuit C₁ activates (i.e., enables) the object detectioncircuit by producing E₀. At Block D, the object detection circuitreceives either the long range mode selection signal or the short rangemode selection signal produced by the range selection circuit 115 andsets the appropriate sensitivity level of the circuit. At Block E, thefirst control circuit C₁ determines whether it has received controlactivation signal A₁ =1, indicating that an object has been detectedwithin the selected range of the scan field. If this control activationsignal is not received, then at Block F the first control circuit C₁determines whether its has received control activation signal A₀ =1. Ifthe first control circuit C₁ has received control activation signal A₀=1, then the control system returns to Block A in FIG. 13A, as shown. Ifthe first control circuit C₁ has not received control activation signalA₀ =1, then the control system returns to Block E, as shown.

If at Block E the first control circuit C₁ has received first controlactivation signal A₁ =1, then at Block G the first control circuit C₁(i) deactivates (i.e., disables) the object sensing circuit and theobject detection circuit using disabling signal E₀ =0, (ii) activates(i.e., enables) laser scanning circuit 108, photoreceiving circuit 109and A/D signal conversion circuit 110 using enable signal E₁ =1, (iii)activates bar code detection circuit 111 and second control circuit C₂using enable signal E₂ =1, and (iv) starts timer T₁ maintained in thefirst control circuit C₁. This permits the bar code symbol readingdevice to collect and analyze scan data signals for the purpose ofdetermining whether or not a bar code is within the scan field. If atBlock H in FIG. 13A the second control circuit C₂ does not receivecontrol activation signal A_(2S) =1 or A_(2L) =1 from the bar codedetection circuit within time period T₁, indicating that a bar codesymbol is detected in the selected range of the scan field, then thecontrol system returns to Block A thereby returning system control tothe first control unit C₁, as shown in FIG. 13A. If at Block H the barcode symbol detection circuit 111 provides the second control circuit C₂with control activation signal A_(2S) =1 or A_(2L) =1, as the case maybe, then at Block I in FIG. 13AA second control circuit C₂ activates(i.e., enables) third control module C₃ (i.e., microprocessor 134) usingenable signal E₃ =1.

At Block J, in FIG. 13AA the third control module C₃ polls (i.e., reads)the parameter R set by range selection circuit 115 and sets a rangelimit flag in the symbol decoding module 119. At Block K third controlmodule C₃ activates the symbol decoding module 119 using enable signalE₄, resets and restarts timer T₂ permitting it to run for a secondpredetermined time period (e.g., 0<T₂ <1 second), and resets andrestarts timer T₃ permitting it to run for a third predetermined timeperiod (e.g., 0<T₃ <5 seconds). At Block L, the third control modulechecks to determine whether control activation signal A₃ =1 is receivedfrom the symbol decoding module 119 within T₂ =1 second, indicative thata bar code symbol has been successfully read (i.e., scanned and decoded)within the allotted time period. If control activation signal A₃ =1 isnot received within the time period T₂ =1 second, then at Block M thirdcontrol module C₃ checks to determine whether control activating signalA₂ =1 is received. If a bar code symbol is not detected, then thecontrol system returns to Block A, causing a state transition from barcode reading to object detection. However, if at Block M the thirdcontrol module C₃ receives control activation signal A₂ =1, indicativethat a bar code once again is within the scan field, then at Block N thethird control whether time period T₃ determine whether time period T₃has elapsed. If it has, then the control system returns to Block A. If,however, time period 0<T₃ <5 seconds has not elapsed, then at Block Kthe third control module C₃ resets and restarts timer T₂ to run onceagain for a time period 0<T₂ <1 second, while T₃ continues to run. Inessence, this provides the device at least another opportunity to read abar code present within the scan field when the control system is atcontrol Block L. During typical bar code reading applications, thecontrol system may progress through the control loop defined by BlocksK-LM-N-K several times before a bar code symbol in the scan field isread within the time period allotted by timer T₃.

Upon receiving control activation signal A₃ =1 from symbol decodingmodule 119, indicative that a bar code symbol has been successfullyread, the control system proceeds to Block 0 in FIG. 13B. At this stageof the system control process, the third control module C₃ continuesactivation of laser scanning circuit 108, photoreceiving circuit 109,and A/D conversion circuit 110, while deactivating symbol decodingmodule 119 and commencing activation of data packet synthesis module120. While the laser beam is continuously scanned across the scan field,the operations at Blocks P to V described below, are carried out in ahigh speed manner under the orchestration of control module C₃.

As indicated at Block P, data packet synthesis module 120 first sets thePacket Number to "1", and increments the Packet Group Number from theprevious number. Preferably, the data packet synthesis module keepstrack of (i.e., manages) the "Packet Number" using a first modulo-Ncounter realized by programmable microprocessor 134, while it managesthe "Packet Group Number" using a second modulo-M counter also realizedby programmed microprocessor 134. In the illustrative embodiment, thefirst modulo counter has a cyclical count range of N=2 (i.e.,0,1,2,0,1,2, . . . ), whereas the second modulo counter has a cyclicalcount range of M=10 (i.e., 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0,1,2, . . . ). At BlockQ, the data packet synthesis module synthesizes or constructs a datapacket having a packet format as shown in FIG. 9, i.e., consisting ofsymbol character data, a Transmitter Identification Number, a PacketNumber, a Packet Group Number, check character, and Packet Start and End(i.e., framing) Characters. After the data packet has been formed andthe digital data sequence constituting the same is buffered, the thirdcontrol module C₃ activates at Block R the data packet transmissioncircuit. Thereafter at Block S, the data packet synthesis module outputsthe buffered digital data sequence (of the first synthesized data packetof the group) to the data packet transmission circuit, which uses thedigital data sequence to modulate the frequency of the carrier signal asit is being transmitted from the bar code symbol reading device, to itsmated base unit, as described hereinabove, and then automaticallydeactivates itself to conserve power.

At Block T, the third control module C₃ determines whether the PacketNumber counted by the first module counter is less than "3". If thePacket Number of the recently transmitted data packet is less than "3",indicative that at most only two data packets in a specific group havebeen transmitted, then at Block U the data packet synthesis module 120increments the Packet Number by +1. At Block V, the third control modulethen waits for a time delay T₅ to lapse prior to the control systemreturning to Block Q, as shown in FIG. 13B. Notably, the occurrence oftime delay T₅ causes a delay in transmission of the next data packet inthe data packet group. As illustrated in FIG. 12, the duration of timedelay T₅ is a function of the (last two digits of the) TransmitterNumber of the current data packet group, and thus is a function of thebar code symbol reading device transmitting symbol character data to itsmated base unit. For the case of three data packet groups, time delay T5will occur between the transmission of the first and second data packetsin a packet group and between the transmission of the second and thirddata packets in the same packet group.

Returning to Block Q, the data packet synthesis module synthesizes orconstructs the second data packet in the same data packet group. Afterthe second data packet has been formed and the digital data sequenceconstituting the same is buffered, the third control module C₃reactivates at Block R the data packet transmission circuit. Thereafterat Block S, the data packet synthesis module outputs the buffereddigital data sequence (of the second synthesized data packet) to thedata packet transmission circuit, which uses the digital data sequenceto modulate the frequency of the carrier signal as it is beingtransmitted from the bar code symbol reading device, to its mated baseunit, and thereafter automatically deactivates itself. When at Block Tthird control module C₃ determines that the Packet Number is equal to"3", the control system advances to Block W in FIG. 13C.

At Block W in FIG. 13C, the third control module C3 continues activationof laser scanning circuit 108 photoreceiving circuit 109, and A/Dconversion circuit 110 using control override signals C₃ /C₁, anddeactivates symbol decoding module 119, data packet synthesis module 120and the data packet transmission circuit 121 using disable signals E₄=0, E₅ =0 and E₆ =0, respectively. Then at Block X the third controlmodule C₃ determines whether control activation signal A₁ =1, indicatingthat an object is present in the selected range of the scan field. Ifthis control activation signal is not provided to the third controlmodule C₃, then the control system returns to Block A, as shown. Ifcontrol activation signal A₁ =1 is received, then at Block Y the thirdcontrol module C₃ reactivates the bar code symbol detection circuitusing override signal C₃ /C₂, and resets and restarts timer T₃ to startrunning over its predetermined time period, i.e., 0<T₃ <5 seconds, andresets and restart timer T₄ for a predetermined time period 0<T₄ <3seconds.

At Block Z in FIG. 13C, the third control module C3 then determineswhether control activation signal A₂ =1 is produced from the bar codesymbol detection circuit 111 within time period T₄, indicating that abar code symbol is present in the selected range of the scan fieldduring this time period. If this signal is not produced within timeperiod T₄, then at Block AA the third control module C₃ deactivates thebar code symbol detection circuit using override signal C₃ /C₂, andreactivates the bar code symbol decoding module 119 using enable signalE₄ =1. At Block BB, the third control module C₃ resets and restartstimer T₂ to run over its predetermined time period, i.e., 0<T₂ <1second. At Block CC the third control module C₃ determines whethercontrol activation signal A₃ =1 is produced by the symbol decodingmodule within time period T₂, indicating that the detected bar codesymbol has been successfully decoded within this time period. If thiscontrol activation signal is not produced within time period T₂, then atBlock DD the third control module C₃ determines whether controlactivation signal A₂ =1 is being produced from the bar code symboldetection circuit, indicating that either the same or another bar codesymbol resides within the selected range of the scan field. If controlactivation signal A₂ =1 is not being produced, then the control systemreturns to Block A, as shown. However, if this control signal is beingproduced, then at Block EE the third control module C₃ determineswhether or not timer T₃ has lapsed, indicating that time window to reada bar code symbol without redetecting the object on which it isdisposed, is closed. When this condition exists, the control systemreturns to Block A in FIG. 13A. However, it time remains on timer T₃,then at Block BB the third control module C₃ resets and restarts timerT₂ and returns to Block CC. As mentioned above, the control system mayflow through the control loop defined by Blocks BB-CC-DD-EE-BB a numberof times prior to reading a bar code within time period T₃.

When the symbol decoding module produces control activation signal A₃ =1within time period T₂, the third control module C₃ determines at BlockFF in FIG. 13CC whether the decoded bar code symbol is different fromthe previously decoded bar code symbol. If the decoded bar code symbolis different than the previously decoded bar code symbol, then thecontrol system returns to Block 0 in FIG. 13B. If the currently decodedbar code symbol is not different than the previously decoded bar codesymbol, then the third control module C₃ determines whether timer T₃ haslapsed. If the timer T₃ has not lapsed, then the control system returnsto Block BB and reenters the control flow defined at Blocks BB throughGG, attempting once again to detect and read a bar code symbol on thedetected object. However, if at Block GG in FIG. 13CC timer T₃ haslapsed, then the control system returns to Block A in FIG. 13A.

Having described the operation of the illustrative embodiment of theautomatic hand-supportable bar code reading device of the presentinvention, it will be helpful to describe at this juncture the variousconditions which cause state transitions to occur during its operation.In this regard, reference is made to FIG. 14 which provides a statetransition diagram for the illustrative embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, the automatic hand-supportable bar codereading device of the present invention has four basic states ofoperation namely: object detection, bar code symbol presence detection,bar code symbol reading, and symbol character data transmission/storage.The nature of each of these states has been described above in greatdetail.

Transitions between the various states are indicated by directionalarrows. Besides each set of directional arrows are transition conditionsexpressed in terms of control activation signals (e.g., A₁, A_(2S) orA_(2L) and A₃, and where appropriate, state time intervals (e.g., T₁,T₂, T₃, T₄, and T₅). Conveniently, the state diagram of FIG. 14expresses most simply the four basic operations occurring during thecontrol flow within the system control program of FIGS. 13A to FIG.13CC. Significantly, the control activation signals A₁, A_(2S) A_(2L)and A₃ in FIG. 14 indicate which events within the object detectionand/or scan fields can operate to effect a state transition within theallotted time frame(s), where prescribed.

Referring now to FIGS. 15 to 15B, the base unit of the illustrativeembodiment of the present invention will be described in greater detail.

In order to perform the data packet reception, processing,retransmission, and acknowledgement functions of base unit 3 describedabove, a circuit board 270 is mounted within the interior volume ofsupport stand portion 14. In the illustrated embodiment, PC board 270 ispopulated with electronic circuitry and devices for realizing each ofthe functions represented by the block shown in the system diagram ofFIG. 16. As shown in FIG. 15A, flexible communication and power supplycables 7 and 8 are routed through aperture 271 formed in the lowerportion of side wall of the support frame, and connect to the electroniccircuitry on PC board 270.

In FIG. 16, the system architecture of base unit 3 is schematicallyrepresented. As shown, base unit 3 comprises a number hardware andsoftware components, namely: a power supply circuit 273; a receivingantenna element 274; an RF carrier signal receiver circuit 275 base unitidentification number storage unit 276; a data packet storage buffer277; a base unit system controller 278; a data packet frame check module279; a transmitter number identification module 280; a data packetnumber identification module 281; a symbol character data extractionmodule 282; a data format conversion module 283; a serial datatransmission circuit 284; and an acoustical acknowledgement signalgeneration circuit 285. In the illustrative embodiment, a programmedmicroprocessor and associated memory (i.e., ROM and RAM), indicated byreference numeral 286, are used to realize the base unit systemcontroller 278 and each of the above-described data processing modules277 to 283. The details of such a programming implementation are knownby those with ordinary skill in the art to which the present inventionpertains.

As shown in FIG. 16, receiving antenna element 274 is electricallycoupled to an input signal port of radio receiver circuit 275 in aconventional manner. In general, the function of radio receiver circuit275 is to receive and process the datapacket modulated carrier signaltransmitted from a remote bar code symbol reader to its mated base unit.The radio receiver circuit of the illustrative embodiment can berealized by configuring several commercially available IC chipstogether, although it is understood that there are certainly other waysin which to realize the basic functions of this circuit. As shown inFIG. 16A, receiving antenna 274 is connected to a matching filtercircuit 287 realized using miniature inductive and capacitivecomponents. The matching filter circuit is tuned to pass a 912 MHz RFcarrier signal transmitted from the data packet transmission circuit 121of the bar code symbol reading device. The output of matching filtercircuit 287 is connected to the input of a first IC chip 288 whichconverts (i.e., translates) the frequency spectrum of the receivedmodulated carrier signal down to an intermediate frequency band, forsubsequent signal processing. In the illustrative embodiment, the firstIC chip 288 is realized using the MAF2001 IC chip from Motorola, Inc.,and provides a low noise amplifier 289, an double balanced mixer 290. Alocal oscillator 292 is needed to provide a local oscillator signal ofabout 922.7 MHZ for use in frequency down-conversion in the doublebalanced mixer 290. Typically, a matching filter 291 is commonlyrequired between local oscillator 292 and mixer 290. As shown in FIG.16A, the output. of the first IC chip is provided to a band-pass filter293 tuned to about 10.7 MHZ, the intermediate frequency band of eachbase| unit. The intermediate signal is then provided as input to asecond IC chip 294. In the illustrative embodiment, the second IC chip294 is realized using the MC13156 IC chip commercially available fromMotorola, and provides inter alia an amplification circuit, a quadraturedemodulation circuit 295, a binary thresholding circuit 296, and carriersignal detection circuit 297. The function of the second IC chip isfour-fold. The first: function of the second IC chip is to filter andamplify the intermediate signal to produce in-phase and quadrature phasesignal components for use in digital data recovery. The second functionof the second IC chip is to recover an analog data signal at the baseband portion of the spectrum, by providing the in-phase andquadrature-phase signal components to the quadrature demodulationcircuit 295. Suitable quadrature demodulation circuitry for use inpracticing the present invention is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,230to Marz, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Asillustrated in FIG. 16A, the third function of the second IC chip is toconvert the analog data signal produced from quadrature demodulationcircuit 295 into a digital data signal using a binary-level thresholdingcircuit 296. The fourth function of the second IC chip is to analyze theincoming signal from the output of band-pass filter 293 in order todetect the incoming carrier signal and produce a carrier detect signalA₇ to the base unit system controller 278. In order to produce a CMOScompatible signal, the recovered digital data signal produced frontsecond IC chip 294 is amplified by a current amplification circuit: 298that is operative whenever a carrier signal is detected (i.e., A₇ =1).As shown in FIG. 16, the output of current amplification circuit 298 isa serial data stream that is clocked into data packet storage buffer 277under the control of base unit system controller 278. In general, thedata packet storage buffer 277 can be realized using a commerciallyavailable Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) device. Theprimary function of data packet buffer memory 277 is to buffer bytes ofdigital data in the produced digital data stream.

In the illustrative embodiment, it necessary to provide a means withinthe base unit housing, to recharge the batteries contained within thehand-supportable housing of the portable bar code symbol reading device.Typically, DC electrical power will be available from the host computersystem 6, to which the base unit is operably connected by way offlexible cables 7 and 8. An electrical arrangement for achieving thisfunction is set: forth in FIG. 16. As shown, power supply circuit 273aboard the base unit of the present invention comprises a conventionalcurrent chopper circuit 299, a high-pass electrical filter 300 inparallel therewith, and a primary inductive coil 301 in parallel withthe high-pass electrical filter. Low voltage DC electrical powerprovided from the host computer system by way of power cable 8 isprovided to direct current (DC) chopper circuit 299, which is realizedon PC board 270 using high-speed current switching circuits. Thefunction of current chopper circuit 299 is to convert the input DCvoltage to the circuit into a high-frequency triangular-type(time-varying) waveform, consisting of various harmonic signalcomponents. The function of the high-pass electrical filter is to filterout the lower frequency signal components and only pass the higherfrequency signal components to the inductive coil 301. As such, the highfrequency electrical currents permitted to flow through inductive coil301 induce a high voltage thereacross and produce time-varying magneticflux (i.e., lines of force). In accordance with well known principles ofelectrical energy transfer, the produced magnetic flux transferselectrical power from the base unit to the rechargeable battery aboardthe bar code symbol reading device, whenever the primary and secondaryinductive coils aboard the base unit and the mated device areelectromagnetically coupled by the magnetic flux. In order to maximizeenergy transfer between the base unit and its mated device duringbattery recharging operations, high permeability materials and wellknown principles of magnetic circuit design can be used to increase theamount of magnetic flux coupling the primary and secondary inductivecoils of the battery recharging circuit.

Referring to FIG. 16, the function of each of the data processingmodules of base unit 3 will now be described in detail.

Upon reception of an incoming carrier signal and the recovery of thedigital data stream therefrom, base unit system controller 278orchestrates the processing of the recovered digital data stream. Asshown in FIG. 16, the operation of data processing modules 279, 280,281, 282 and 283 are enabled by the production of enable signalsE_(PFC), E_(TID), E_(DPID), E_(DE), and E_(DFC), respectively, from thebase unit system controller.

The primary function of data packet frame check module 279 is to analyzeall of the data bytes in the received data, packet, including the Startand End of Packet Fields, and determine whether a complete frame (i.e.,packet) of digital data bytes has been recovered from the incomingmodulated carrier signal. If so, then data packet frame check module 279produces activation control signal A_(PFC) =1 which is provided to thebase unit system controller, as shown in FIG. 16.

The primary function of the transmitter number identification module 280is to analyze the data bytes in the Transmitter ID Field of the receiveddata packet and determine the Transmitter ID Number preassigned to thebar code reading device that transmitted the data packet received by thebase unit. If the Transmitter ID Number of the received data packetmatches the preassigned Base Unit Identification No. stored innon-volatile memory (i.e., EPROM) 302 aboard the base unit, then thetransmitter number identification module generates control activationsignal A_(TID) =1, which is provided to the base unit system controller.

The primary function of the packet number identification module 281 isto analyze the data bytes in the Packet Number Field of the receiveddata packet and determine the Packet Number of the data packet receivedby the base unit. This module then advises the base unit systemcontroller that a different packet number was received, representing anew group (e.g., now seen) by producing an encoded signal A_(DPID)during the system control process.

The primary function of the symbol character data extraction module 282is to analyze the data bytes in the Symbol Character Data Field of thereceived data packet, determine the code represented by the symbolcharacter data, and provided this symbol character data to the dataformat conversion module 283 under the control of the base unit systemcontroller during the system control process.

The primary function of the data format conversion module 283 is toconvert the format of the recovered symbol character data, into a dataformat that can be used by the host computer symbol 6 that is toultimately receive and use the symbol character data. In the bar codesymbol reading system of first illustrative embodiment, the data formatconversion is from ASCII format to RS232 format, although it isunderstood that other conversions may occur in alternative embodiment ofthe present invention. Typically, the data format conversion process iscarried out using a data format conversion table which contains theappropriate data structure conversions.

The primary function of the serial data transmission circuit 284 is toaccept the format-converted symbol character data from the data formatconversion module 283, and transmit the same as a serial data streamover data communication cable 7, to the data input port of the hostcomputer system 6 (e.g., cash register, data collection device,inventory computer). Preferably, an RS-232 data communication protocolis used to facilitate the data transfer process. Thus the constructionof serial data transmission circuit 284 is conventional and the detailsthereof are well within the knowledge of those with ordinary skill inthe art.

The primary function of acoustical acknowledgement signal generationcircuit 285 is to produce an acoustical acknowledgement signal SA inresponse to the successful recovery of symbol character data from atransmitted data packet. The purpose of the acoustical acknowledgementsignal is to notify the user that the transmitted data packet has beensuccessfully received by its mated base unit. In the illustrativeembodiment, the intensity of the acoustical acknowledgement signal issuch that the remotely situated user of the portable bar code symbolreader can easily hear the acoustical acknowledgement signal in anexpected work environment having an average noise floor of at leastabout 50 decibels. Preferably, the pitch of the acousticalacknowledgement signal is within the range of about 1 to about 10kilohertz, in order to exploit the sensitivity characteristics of thehuman auditory apparatus of the user. In the exemplary embodiment, thepitch is about 2.5 kilohertz. Under such conditions, the intensity ofsuch an acoustical acknowledgement signal at its point of generationwill typically need to have an output signal power of about 70 decibelsin order to be heard by the user in a working environment having anaverage noise floor of about 50 decibels and an average noise ceiling ofabout 100 decibels. Acoustical acknowledgement signals of such charactercan be produced from acoustical acknowledgement signal generationcircuit 285, shown in FIG. 285.

As shown in FIG. 16B, acoustical acknowledgement signal generationcircuit 285 comprises a number of subcomponents, namely: a decodercircuit 305; a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) driver circuit 306; aVCO circuit 307; an output amplifier circuit 308; and a piezo-electrictype electro-acoustic transducer 303 having an output signal bandwidthin the audible range. The operation (i.e., duration) of the acousticalacknowledgment signal generation circuit 285 is controlled by base unitsystem controller 278 using enable signal E_(AA). In the illustrativeembodiment, enable signal E_(AA) is a digital word encoded to representone of a number of possible audible pitches or tones that are to begenerated upon each successful reception of a transmitted data packet ata mated base station. The function of decoder circuit 305 is to decodethe enable signal EAA produced by the base unit system controller andproduce a set of voltage signals (V₁ 1, V₂ . . . . , Vn} whichcorrespond to a specified pitch sequence to be produced byelectro-acoustic transducer 309. The function of VCO driver circuit 306is to sequentially drive VCO circuit 307 with the produced set ofvoltages {V₁ 1 . . . . Vn} so that VCO circuit produces over a shorttime period (e.g., 0.5-1.5 seconds), a set of electrical signals havingfrequencies that correspond to the specified pitch sequence to beproduced from the electro-acoustic transducer 309. The function ofamplifier circuit 308 is to amplify these electrical signals, whereasthe function of electro-acoustical transducer 309 is to convert theamplified electrical signal set into the specified pitch sequence forthe user to clearly hear in the expected operating environment. As shownin FIGS. 1 and 15A, the base housing is preferably provided with anaperture or sound port 304 so as to permit the energy of the acousticalsignal from transducer 309 to freely emanate to the ambient environmentof the user. In particular application, it may be desired or necessaryto produce acoustical acknowledgement signal of yet greater intensitylevels that those specified above. In such instances, electro-acousticaltransducer 309 may be used to excite one or more tuned resonantchamber(s) mounted within or formed as part of the base unit housing.

Having described the structure and general functional components of baseunit 3, it is appropriate at this juncture to now describe the overalloperation thereof with reference to the control process shown in FIGS.17 and 17A.

As illustrated at Block A in FIG. 17, radio receiving circuit 275 is theonly system component that is normally active at this stage of the baseunit system control process. All other system components are inactive(i.e., disabled), including base unit system controller 278; data packetstorage buffer 277, data packet frame check module 279, transmitternumber identification module 280, data packet number Identificationmodule 281, symbol character data extraction module 282, data formatconversion module 283, serial data transmission circuit 284, andacoustical acknowledgement signal generation circuit 285. With the radioreceiving circuit activated, the base unit is capable of receiving anymodulated carrier signal transmitted from any of the bar code symbolreading devices within the data transmission range of the base unit.

At Block B in FIG. 17, radio receiving circuit 275 deter-mines whetherit has received a transmitted carrier signal on its receiving antennaelement 274. If it has, then the radio receiving circuit generates asystem controller activation signal A₇, which activates base unit systemcontroller 278 and signal amplifier 276 shown in FIG. 16 and 16A,respectively. Then at Block C, the base unit system controller activates(i.e., enables) data packet storage buffer 277 and data packet framecheck module 279 by producing activation control signals ESB=1 andE_(PFC) =1, respectively. At Block D, the base unit system controllerdetermines whether it has received an acknowledgement (i.e., controlactivation signal A_(PFC) =1) from the data packet frame check module,indicating that the received data packet is properly framed. If thereceived data packet is not properly framed, then the base unit returnsto Block A in order to redetect an incoming carrier signal. However, ifthe received data packet is properly framed, then at Block E the baseunit system controller enables the transmitter number identificationmodule by generating enable signal E_(TID) =1.

At Block F, the base unit system controller determines whether it hasreceived an acknowledgment (i.e., control activation, signal A_(TID) =1)from the transmitter number identification module that the received datapacket contains the correct transmitter identification number (i.e., thesame number assigned to the base unit and stored in storage unit 276).If the Transmitter Identification Number contained within the receiveddata packet does not match the base unit identification number stored instorage unit 276, then the base unit system controller returns to BlockA whereupon it resumes carrier signal detection. If, however, thetransmitter packet number contained within the received data packetmatches the base unit identification number, then at Block G the baseunit system controller enables the data packet number identificationmodule 289 by generating enable signal E_(DPID) =1.

At Block H, the base unit system controller determines whether it hasreceived an acknowledgment (i.e., control activation signal A_(DPID) =1)from the data packet identification module indicating that the receiveddata packet is not a redundant data packet (i.e., from the sametransmitted data packet group). If the received data packet is aredundant data packet, then the base unit system controller returns toBlock A, whereupon carrier signal detection is resumed. If, however, thereceived data packet is not redundant, then at Block I the base unitsystem controller enables the symbol character data extraction module bygenerating enable signal E_(DE) =1. In response to the generation ofthis enable signal, the symbol data extraction module reads at Block Jthe symbol character data contained in the received data packet, checksthe data for statistical reliability, and the writes the extractedsymbol character data bytes into a storage buffer (not explicitlyshown).

As indicated at Block K in FIG. 17, the base unit system controller thenenables the data format conversion module by generating enable signalE_(DFC) =1. In response to this enable signal, the data formatconversion module converts the data format of the recovered symbolcharacter data and then buffers the format-converted symbol characterdata bytes in a data buffer (not explicitly shown). At Block L the baseunit system controller enables the serial data transmission circuit 284by generating enable signal E_(DT) =1. In response to this enablesignal, the serial data transmission circuit transmits theformat-converted symbol character data bytes over communication cable 7using serial data transmission techniques well known in the art, asdiscussed above. When the serial data transmission process issuccessfully completed, the base unit system controller enables at BlockM the acoustical acknowledgement signal generation circuit 285 byproducing enable signal E_(AA) =1. In response to the production of thisenable signal, acoustical acknowledgment signal generation circuit 285generates a high intensity acoustical signal having characteristics ofthe type described above, thereby informing the user that a transmitteddata packet has been received and that the symbol character datapackaged therein has been successfully recovered and transmitted to thehost computer system. Thereafter, the base unit system controllerreturns to the Block A, as shown.

It is appropriate at this juncture to illustrate the automatic hands-onand hands-free modes of operation of the system while utilized indifferent mounting installations.

A point-of-sale station is shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B, as comprising anelectronic cash register 6 operably connected to the automatic bar codereading system of the first illustrative embodiment by way of flexiblecommunication cable 7. Low voltage DC power is provided to base unit 3by way of flexible power supply cable 8. In this particular mountinginstallation, base unit 3 is supported on a horizontal countertopsurface. If necessary or desired in such mounting installations, thebase plate of base unit 3 may be weighted by affixing one or more densemass elements to the upper surface of the base plate.

With automatic bar code reading device 2 supported within scannersupport stand portion of the base unit, the system is automaticallyinduced into its automatic long-range hands-free mode of operation. Thepositioning of both object detection and scan fields in this mountinginstallation allows bar code symbols on objects to be easily read. Inorder to induce the system into its short-range hands-on mode ofoperation, the user simply encircles the handle portion of thehand-supportable device with his or her fingers, and then lifts thedevice out of the scanner support stand. Upon lifting the device out ofits stand, the range selection circuit 115 (e.g., including aHalt-effect magnetic flux sensor (mounted in the handle of the housing)detects the absence of magnetic flux produced from a permanent magnetmounted in the support stand, and automatically generates theshort-range control activation signal (i.e., R₁ =0). The details of thisrange mode-selection mechanism can be found in copending applicationSer. No. 07/761,123, supra.

With the automatic bar code reading device held in the user's hand, anda bar coded object 435 in the other hand, the object is moved into theshort-range portion of the object. detection field as shown in FIG. 18B,where the object is automatically detected, and bar code symbol 436automatically scanned while the visible laser beam is repeatedly scannedwithin the scanning volume. After the bar code symbol has beensuccessfully read (i.e., detected and decoded) and a transmitted datapacket containing symbol character data has been received and processedat base unit 3 in a manner described hereinabove, a highly audibleacoustical acknowledgement signal Sack of a predetermined pitch isproduced from the base unit. Thereafter, the bar code reading device isplaced back within the scanner support stand, where it is once againinduced into its long-range hands-free mode of operation.

Having described the preferred embodiments of the present invention,several modifications come to mind.

In the system control process of the illustrative embodiment, shown inFIG. 8, the polygon 36 is actively driven to its desired angularvelocity only when the system is in its bar code symbol detection andread modes. In the illustrative embodiment, the moment of inertia of thepolygon 36 is ultra-low so that it can instantly attain its desiredangular velocity (from rest) in a very short time from when an object isdetected within the 3-D scanning volume.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the controlsystem of the laser scanner hereof can be modified so that the scanningpolygon 36 is actively driven to idle at angular velocity W_(OD) whenthe system is in its object detection mode, and actively driven to itsdesired angular velocity W_(BCD) (i.e., where W_(BCD) W_(OD).) when thesystem is in the bar code detection mode. Using this control process,the scanning polygon is permitted to quickly attain its desiredoperating velocity W_(BCD) when an object is detected in the scanningvolume, for subsequent scan data collection operations. This controltechnique offers the advantage of using a polygon of a high moment ofinertia, with the option of periodically imparting torque to the polygonmotor shaft during the object detection state to maintain the idlingvelocity W_(ODS) in an electrically conservative manner. The motorcontrol circuit hereof can be readily modified to realize such apulsed-torque functionality in the system of the present invention.

In an alternative embodiment, where power consumption is not of criticalconcern, the scanning polygon can be continuously driven to the desiredoperating velocity at each state of system operation.

The automatic bar code reading system of the present invention iscapable of performing a wide variety of complex decision-makingoperations in real-time, endowing the system with a level ofintelligence hitherto unattained in the bar code symbol reading art.Within the spirit of the present invention, additional decision-makingoperations may be provided to further enhance the capabilities of thesystem.

While the various embodiments of the projection laser scanner hereofhave been described in connection with linear (1-D) code symbol scanningapplications, it should be clear, however, that the projection laserscanner of the present invention is suitable for scanning 2-D codesymbols as well as alphanumeric characters (e.g. textual information) inoptical character recognition (OCR) applications.

While the particular illustrative embodiments shown and described abovewill be useful in many applications in code symbol reading, furthermodifications to the present invention herein disclosed will occur topersons with ordinary skill in the art. All such modifications aredeemed to be within the scope and spirit of the present inventiondefined by the appended Claims to Invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hand-supportable projection laser scannercomprising:(a) a hand-supportable housing having a light transmissionwindow through which laser light can exit said hand-supportable housing,travel towards an object bearing a code symbol and reflect therefrom,and at least a portion of said reflected, laser light travel backthrough said light transmission window and. enter said hand-supportablehousing; (b) an optical bench mounted in said hand-supportable housingand having a longitudinal extent which extends along a central referenceaxis; (c) a laser beam producing means disposed within saidhand-supportable housing for producing a laser beam; (d) a laser beamsweeping means mounted within said hand-supportable housing with respectto said optical bench for rotation about a rotational axis intersectingsaid central reference axis, where the intersection of said rotationalaxis and said central reference axis defines a central reference planewhich extends along the longitudinal extent of said optical bench,saidlaser beam sweeping means having at least first, second and thirdrotating light reflective surfaces each being disposed at a differentacute angle with respect to said rotational axis, for sequentiallysweeping the laser beam about said rotational axis along a plurality ofdifferent paths; (e) a stationary array of at least first, second, thirdand fourth stationary light reflective surfaces mounted within saidhand-supportable housing with respect to said optical bench and disposedsubstantially under said light transmission window;said first and secondstationary light reflective surfaces being symmetrically disposed onopposite sides of said central reference plane, and closely adjacentsaid laser beam. sweeping means, and said third and fourth stationarylight reflective surfaces being symmetrically disposed on opposite sidesof said, central reference plane, and closely adjacent said first andsecond. stationary light reflective surfaces, respectively; (f) a lightcollection subsystem disposed within said hand-supportable housing, andincluding(1) a light collection element, mounted along said. centralreference plane and adjacent said third and fourth. stationary lightreflective surfaces, for allowing the laser beam produced from saidlaser beam producing means to pass along a portion of said centralreference plane, to said laser beam sweeping means, for sweeping aboutsaid rotational axis thereof along said plurality of different paths,and (2) light receiving means for receiving light from said lightcollection element at a point substantially within said centralreference plane, and detecting the intensity of said received light andproducing an electrical signal indicative of said detected intensity;(g) signal processing means disposed within said hand-supportablehousing, for processing said electrical signal and producing scan datarepresentative of a scanned code symbol; (h) control means within saidhand-supportable housing for controlling the operation of saidhand-supportable projection laser scanner so that, during scanneroperation, the laser beam produced from said laser beam producing meanspasses along a portion of said central reference plane, to the first,second and third rotating light reflective surfaces of said laser beamsweeping means, and as the laser beam sequentially reflects off saidfirst, second and third rotating light reflective surfaces, the laserbeam is repeatedly swept across said first, second, third, and fourthstationary light reflective surfaces thereby producing first, second,third, and fourth groups of plural scan lines, respectively, which areprojected out through said light transmission window and intersect abouta projection axis within a narrowly confined scanning volume extendingfrom adjacent: said light transmission window to at least about sixinches therefrom so as to produce a highly collimated projected scanningpattern within said narrowly confined scanning volume; and (i) saidhand-supportable housing being supportable relative to an object bearinga code symbol so thatwhen a code symbol is presented within saidnarrowly confined scanning volume, (i) the code symbol is scannedomnidirectionally by said highly collimated scanning pattern (ii) atleast a portion of the laser light reflected from said scanned codesymbol is directed through said light transmission window, reflected offat least one of said first, second, third and fourth stationary lightreflective surfaces, and then reflected off at least one of said first,second and third rotating light reflective surfaces of said laser beamsweeping means, and (iii) thereafter said reflected laser light iscollected by said light collection element, and received by said lightreceiving means for detection, whereupon said electrical signal isproduced for processing by said signal processing means; wherein saidautomatic hand-supportable laser projection scanner has a center-of-masswhich produces substantially zero to torque about the user's indexfinger while said projection laser scanner is held within said user'shand, thereby providing easy handling and fatigue-free omnidirectionalscanning of bar code symbols.
 2. The hand-supportable projection laserscanner of claim 1, wherein said signal processing means furthercomprises data processing means for decode processing said scan data andproducing data representative of said scanned code symbol.
 3. Thehand-supportable projection laser scanner of claim 1, wherein saiddifferent acute angles are selected so that the scan lines in each saidgroup of scan lines are substantially equidistant from each other at anydistance from said light transmission window
 4. The hand-supportableprojection laser scanner of claim 1, wherein said laser beam producingmeans comprises a laser diode mounted with respect to said opticalbench.
 5. The hand-supportable projection laser scanner of claim 1,wherein said first, second, third, and fourth stationary lightreflective surfaces comprise first, second, third, and fourth planarmirrors, respectively.
 6. The hand-supportable projection laser scannerof claim 1, wherein said hand-supportable housing has a head portion andhandle portion extending from said head portion, and said lighttransmission window being disposed within said head portion.
 7. Thehand-supportable projection laser scanner of claim 1, wherein saidhighly collimated scanning pattern is oriented along the longitudinalextent of said hand-supportable housing so as to facilate scanning ofcode symbols presented to said narrowly confined scanning volume.
 8. Thehand-supportable projection laser scanner of claim 1, wherein saidoptical bench comprises a shock-mounted support structure upon whichsaid first, second, third and fourth stationary light reflectivesurfaces are mounted.
 9. The hand-supportable projection laser scannerof claim 1, wherein said light receiving means comprises aphotodetector.
 10. The hand-supportable projection laser scanner ofclaim 10, wherein said photodetector is disposed on a printed circuitboard, at a height above said laser beam sweeping means, substantiallywithin said central reference plane.
 11. The hand-supportable projectionlaser scanner of claim 1, wherein said code symbol is a bar code symbol.12. The hand-supportable projection laser scanner of claim 1, whereinsaid light collecting element is a light collecting mirror having afocal distance, at which said light receiving means is disposed.
 13. Thehand-supportable projection laser scanner of claim 1, whereineach scanline in said first group of scan lines is substantially parallel to eachother scan line in said first group of scan lines, each scan line insaid second group of scan lines is substantially parallel to each otherscan line in said second group of scan lines, each scan line in saidthird group of scan lines is substantially parallel to each other scanline in said third group of scan lines, and each scan line in saidfourth group of scan lines is substantially parallel to each other scanline in said fourth group of scan lines.
 14. An automatic projectionlaser scanning system comprising:a hand-supportable housing having alight transmission aperture through which visible light can exit andenter into said hand-supportable housing; object detection means in saidhand-supportable housing, for detecting an object located in a narrowlyconfined scanning volume defined external to said hand supportablehousing, and automatically generating an activation signal in responseto the detection of said object located therein; scan data producingmeans in said hand-supportable housing, for producing scan data from adetected object located in said narrowly confined scanning volume, saidscan data producing means including, laser beam generating means forgenerating a visible laser beam and directing said visible laser beamthrough said light transmission aperture and into said narrowly confinedscanning volume, laser beam scanning means for repeatedly scanning saidvisible laser beam so as to produce a highly collimated scanning patternwithin said narrowly confined scanning volume, for scanning a codesymbol on said detected object presented therein, laser light detectingmeans for detecting the intensity of laser light reflected off said barcode symbol and passing through said light transmission aperture as saidvisible laser beam is repeatedly scanned within said narrowly confinedscanning volume, and means for automatically producing scan dataindicative of said detected intensity; scan data processing means forprocessing produced scan data so as to detect and decode said bar codesymbol on said detected object, and automatically producing symbolcharacter data representative of said decoded bar code symbol; andcontrol means for controlling the operation of said automatic bar codesymbol reading system; wherein said automatic hand-supportable laserprojection scanner has a center-of-mass which produces substantiallyzero torque about the user's index finger while said laser projectionscanner is held within said user's hand.
 15. The automatic projectionlaser scanning system of claim 14, wherein said laser generating meanscomprises a laser diode.
 16. The automatic projection laser scanningsystem of claim 14, wherein said bar code symbol has first and secondenvelope borders, and wherein said scan data processing means comprisesmeans for detecting the first and second envelope borders of said barcode symbol, and means for decoding said detected bar code symbol. 17.The automatic projection laser scanning system of claim 14, wherein saidobject detection means comprises means for receiving energy reflectedfrom an object within an object detection field defined external to saidhousing and having an essentially volumetric extent, andwherein saidhighly collimated scanning pattern is characterized by at least onescanning plane having an essentially planar extent, and wherein saidobject detection field spatially encompasses at least a portion of saidhighly collimated scanning pattern.
 18. The automatic projection laserscanning system of claim 14, wherein said laser beam generating means isoperated in a pulsed laser mode so as to generate a pulsed visible laserbeam, which is directed through said light transmission aperture andrepeatedly scanned across said highly collimated scanning pattern andsaid bar code symbol on said detected object.
 19. The automaticprojection laser scanning system of claim 18, wherein said objectdetection means includestransmitting means for transmitting a pulsesignal through a first optical element and into said narrowly confinedscanning volume, signal receiving means for receiving said transmittedpulse signal reflected off said object in said narrowly confinedscanning volume, and signal comparing means for comparing said receivedpulse signal with said transmitted pulse signal and automaticallygenerating an activation signal indicative of said object in saidnarrowly confined scanning volume.
 20. The automatic projection laserscanning system of claim 19, wherein said transmitting means comprisesan infra-red light source in said hand-supportable housing for producinginfra-red light pulse which are transmitted through said first opticalelement into said narrowly confined scanning volume, and wherein saidreceiving means comprises an infra-red light detection and a secondoptical element for focusing reflected infra-red light pulses onto saidinfra-red light detector.
 21. The automatic projection laser scanningsystem of claim 14, wherein said hand-supportable housing comprises ahead portion and a handle portion, and wherein said object detectionmeans and said activatable scan data producing means are disposed insaid head portion.
 22. A hand-supportable projection laser scannercomprising:(a) a hand-supportable housing having a head portion, ahandle portion extending from said head portion, and a lighttransmission window through which laser light can exit saidhand-supportable housing, travel towards an object bearing a code symboland reflect therefrom, and at least a portion of said reflected laserlight travel back through said light transmission window and enter saidhand-supportable housing; (b) an optical bench mounted in the headportion of said hand-supportable housing and having a longitudinalextent which extends along a central reference axis; (c) a laser beamproducing means disposed within said hand-supportable housing, forproducing a laser beam; (d) a laser beam sweeping means mounted withinsaid hand-supportable housing with respect to said optical bench forrotation about a rotational axis intersecting said central referenceaxis, where the intersection of said rotational axis and said centralreference axis defines a central reference plane which extends along thelongitudinal extent of said optical bench,said laser beam sweeping meanshaving at least first, second and third rotating light reflectivesurfaces each being disposed at a different acute angle with respect tosaid rotational axis, for sequentially sweeping the laser beam aboutsaid rotational axis along a plurality of different paths; (e) astationary array of at least first, second, third and fourth stationarylight reflective surfaces mounted within said hand-supportable housingwith respect to said optical bench and disposed substantially under saidlight transmission window;said first and second stationary lightreflective surfaces being symmetrically disposed on opposite sides ofsaid central reference plane, and closely adjacent said laser beamsweeping means, and said third and fourth stationary light reflectivesurfaces being symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of said centralreference plane, and closely adjacent said first and second stationarylight reflective surfaces, respectively; (f) a light collectionsubsystem disposed within said hand-supportable housing, andincluding(1) a light collection element, mounted along said centralreference plane and adjacent said third and fourth stationary lightreflective surfaces, for allowing the laser beam produced from saidlaser beam producing means to pass along a portion of said centralreference plane, to said laser beam sweeping means, for sweeping aboutsaid rotational axis thereof along said plurality of different paths,and (2) light receiving means for receiving light from said lightcollection element at a point substantially within said centralreference plane, and detecting the intensity of said received light andproducing an electrical signal indicative of said detected intensity;(g) signal processing means disposed within said hand-supportablehousing, for processing said electrical signal and producing scan datarepresentative of a scanned code symbol; (h) control means within saidhand-supportable housing for controlling the operation of saidhand-supportable projection laser scanner so that, during scanneroperation, the laser beam produced from said laser beam producing meanspasses along a portion of said central reference plane, to the first,second and third rotating light reflective surfaces of said laser beamsweeping means, and as the laser beam sequentially reflects off saidfirst, second and third rotating light reflective surfaces, the laserbeam is repeatedly swept across said first, second, third, and fourthstationary light reflective surfaces thereby producing first, second,third, and fourth groups of plural scan lines, respectively, which areprojected out through said light transmission window and intersect abouta projection axis within a narrowly confined scanning volume extendingfrom adjacent said light transmission window to at least about sixinches therefrom so as to produce a highly collimated projected scanningpattern within said narrowly confined scanning volume; and (i) saidhand-supportable housing being supportable relative to an object bearinga code symbol while said handle portion is held within the hand of auser, so thatwhen a code symbol is presented within said narrowlyconfined scanning volume, (i) the code symbol is scannedomnidirectionally by said highly collimated scanning pattern (ii) atleast a portion of the laser light reflected from said scanned codesymbol is directed through said light transmission window, reflected offat least one of said first, second, third and fourth stationary lightreflective surfaces, and then reflected off at least one of said first,second and third rotating light reflective surfaces of said laser beamsweeping means, and (iii) thereafter said reflected laser light iscollected by said light collection element, and received by said lightreceiving means for detection, whereupon said electrical signal isproduced for processing by said signal processing means; wherein saidautomatic hand-supportable laser projection scanner has a center-of-masswhich produces substantially zero torque about the user's index fingerwhile said projection laser scanner is held within said user's hand,thereby providing easy handling and fatigue-free omnidirectionalscanning of bar code symbols.
 23. The hand-supportable projection laserscanner of claim 20, wherein said signal processing means furthercomprises data processing means for decode processing said scan data andproducing data representative of said scanned code symbol.
 24. Thehand-supportable projection laser scanner of claim 20, wherein saiddifferent acute angles are selected so that the scan lines in each saidgroup of scan lines are substantially equidistant from each other at anydistance from said light transmission window
 25. The hand-supportableprojection laser scanner of claim 20, wherein said laser beam producingmeans comprises a laser diode mounted with respect to said opticalbench.
 26. The hand-supportable projection laser scanner of claim 20,wherein said first, second, third, and fourth stationary lightreflective surfaces comprise first, second, third, and fourth planarmirrors, respectively.